Love You - DIC141

Hello all!!!  Time for another UDI Blog Inspiration challenge!  I just love the inspiration picture that Maria picked for us this week.  A very simple, yet focused, picture of a Monarch butterfly on a yellow flower.  It gives such a nice feeling that Spring is finally coming.   Make sure to check out the UDI Blog and play along.

My inspiration came from the yellow of the flower and the butterfly.  The newest Technique Junkies newsletter is loaded with fun and interesting techniques to try.  The technique that I used on here is called Millefiori.  It is based on an Italian way for making stained glass.  I used three different sets to create the background piece:  Flower Fancy, Pick a Petal and Dreams du'Jour.  I can't give you all the specifics of the technique, but if you check out the Technique Junkies site, you can get the details for getting the newsletter.

The main image and butterfly come from the Dreams du'Jour set.  And this image is great for also using the Outof-the-Box technique because it's already set up for you!  I stamped it twice, once in black staz on and again in Kiwi Kiss.  I then cut the image out, leaving the leaves and bud outside the box, following the inner boxed lines.  I then layered it with a dimensional with the second image.

Luckily for me, I stamped a butterfly in just the right spot so I could cut it out and pop it up over the stamped image.  Helps to give it even more depth.

The "bow" is a faux bow using the instructions from Mary Brown.  The entire background panel and strip are popped up on dimensionals too.

This is going out to my March Just One partner with Technique Junkies.

Don't forget to check out the UDI Blog and play along if you can!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Hop on over - GCA #129

Hello all!!!  How is everyone doing??  In my area of Michigan today is BEAUTIFUL and sunny day.  Still a little chilly out, but the sun is out and that is what's important!!  Nothing like a sunny day to get the juices flowing.

Well are you ready to get back into the challenges???  This week is an easy one, I promise.  Easter is on the way and this week we are focusing on that.

So for the challenge this week, your creations need to be anything related to Easter.  Bunnies, chicks, carrots or Easter baskets, it all fits!!  My sample for this week is an easy one - even for me!!!  This was one of the cards I did for my monthly club.  The original idea came from Danielle Vincent on Stampin' Connection.  I apologize for those who are not SU! demos, as you will not be able to access the card.

What drew me to her cute Easter card was the bunny.  One: how it was punched with the 1 3/4", 1 3/8" and small oval punches and two: the button as the tail!!!Of course, I made some changes to make it my own, but the bunny is basically the same.  I sponged Regal Rose around all the edges and used a Pretty in Pink button with a pearl on top as the tail.  I also added "whiskers" to my bunny with white crochet thread.

To carry over the bunny/Easter theme I used the bunny dsp from the Nursery Suite dsp.  The striped dsp is the Pear Pizzazz from the hostess level 1 pack.  The "grass" is a strip of Pear Pizzazz card stock first punched with the pinking hearts border punch and then ran through the crimper.  I then used dimensionals behind the bunny for depth. 

I also used a new trick that I found out about from some fellow stampers!!!  SU! has the Movers & Shapers dies and XL die, which I have, but I rarely use.  Most of the time I forget I have them and the other times I just don't want to bother with pulling all that out.  But, some smart stamper discovered that if you have the clear circle or scalloped square BIGZ die, you can use the Mover & Shaper dies alone with those!  I usually just want the larger background piece so this works perfect!  The Regal Rose scalloped oval is from the Mover & Shaper and the Whisper White one is the large scalloped oval punch.  The sentiment is from Well Scripted.

Upload your creation to either your blog or to an online gallery and post a link to your creation to this blog entry by April 2, 2011 at 12 midnight. I will choose the winner the next day. If you upload your card to SCS, PaperCraft Planet, Stampin' Addicts, Stampin' Connection (for SU! demos) or Stamp TV, please put GCA129 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~~~~ 

50,000 Hits and plus with Blog Candy!!!!

Are you ready for all the particulars now????  I think you will like this blog candy offering.  I had so much fun putting this together, but at the same time realized I had way too much stuff building up in my craft room!!!

Here's what is up for grabs:

* 12 x 12 pack of SAB dsp from 2010

* 5 12 x 12 sheets of various designs

* 2 stamp sets from Treehouse Stamps (now closed)
* 1 package of Popeze/Hinges
* 1 package of Owl design brads by Kaiser
* roll of Ice Cream Parlor ribbon - SAB 2011
* roll of Papertrey Ink - Lemon Sherbet saddle stitched grosgrain

* set of 15 cards & envelopes from me

* 10 1"x8" "skinny bags"

* 5 6" clear plastic test tubes with lids

* Pack of SU! post-it's and note paper

* a container of various odds and ends embellishments

There may be a few extra items I forgot about, but you get the main picture!!

This blog candy offering will be up until April 2, 2011 and closes at midnight.  What do you need to do to enter??  Just leave me a comment telling me the things you like about my blog, and what you see needs improvement, what you would like to see on it or whatever!

Good Luck!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Fan Flower - DIC140

Hello all!!!  Here we are again at another Thursday and time for the UDI Blog Inspiration challenge.  The inspiration piece this week is painting with a modern feel to it.

This past weekend I spent stamping and socializing with my Michigan Mingler friends in Novi.  I spent more time socializing than stamping, but I did manage to create this card for the challenge.

I took limited supplies with me, as I really couldn't take the entire craft room!!!  I did take my Big Shot and limited dies.

My inspiration card starts with a Crumb Cake base, folded at the top.  Then I used a piece of the SAB dsp in the Peach Parfait pattern, distressed with my cutter kit tool and then ripped or torn away at random areas.  Under that I layered a piece of the First Editions dsp, available in the Occasions mini.  The card base was also distressed and then sponged over with the Crumb Cake and Chocolate Chip.

The flower is made from a strip of Newsprint dsp, scored at every 1/4", folded accordion style and then shaped into a flower.  An antique brad in the center finishes it off.  Linen thread is wrapped around the card and a sizzlet leaf is the final touch.

Don't forget to check out the UDI Blog and play along if you can!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Winner of GCA #128 is....

... Kym from Kym's Crafty Cards.  Check out her fabulous card on her blog!!!  Kym please send me your address so I may get you a stampin' goodie package to amf1066@comcast.net.

Thanks to all who stopped by and played along.

I apologize for being MIA the past couple of days.  Out of town last week, and week end, with no internet access.  By the time I hooked back up, I had over 400 emails to get through!!!!

So, this week we are taking off with the GCA.  However, I see that I have over 50,000 visitors logged so that means it's time for some blog candy!!!!!  I will post all the particulars this Friday, as I am out of town for work until then.  But, I promise it will be good!!!

Until then, Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

A Gift For You - DIC138

Hello all!!  WOW has this past week just flown by me!!!  Here we are at another UDI Inspiration Thursday.  This week Maria has provided us with a beautiful deep blue rose.

If you have a minute, check out the UDI blog and play along with us!!


More details later!!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #128 - You Are In My Thoughts!

Hello all!!!  Another week has just flown by and it's Sunday once again.  Unless, you live under a rock, you know all about the massive earthquake and tsunami damage in Japan.  The more I look at the images coming from Japan and read the articles, the more I am grateful of where I live, but most importantly my heart just breaks for those who have lost their lives and the families left behind.

So, this week the focus is to create a card, or something, for someone you know, or don't know, and let them know that you are thinking of them.  It could be a Thinking of You, Sympathy, Get Well or just a general You're in My Thoughts.  Not only have the events in Japan occurred, but closer to home I have lost a dear co-worker and another co-worker fractured her pelvis while skiing.  So, I have cards to get done!  And I have had a couple of RAK requests come through my inbox that I need to get out.

Here's my sample.  Tried to keep it simple, but that doesn't always work for me!!!  I used the sketch from TechnoStamper's blog (AKA MaryJo), TSSC164.  I'm also using this for the Late Night Stamper's weekly challenge - to go green!

The thought here was to keep the colors somewhat subdued, yet still give the recipient a bright spot to their day.  The dsp is Greenhouse Gala, layered on a Very Vanilla card base.  The Top Note piece is cut from Old Olive, layered with Cajun Craze and then Very Vanilla.  The Cajun Craze layer was punched with the corner and border scallop trim punches.  Almost forgot how to do that I haven't done it in a while!!

The large butterfly was cut with the butterfly die in the cork and the smaller one is from the Beautiful Wings embosslit.  Layered those with an Old Olive button and Pumpkin Pie flower brad.  I took the prongs off the flower brad and used my hot glue gun to attach to the button.  The entire butterfly piece is up on dimensionals.  The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

Upload your creation to either your blog or to an online gallery and post a link to your creation to this blog entry by March 19, 2011 at 12 midnight. I will choose the winner the next day. If you upload your card to SCS, PaperCraft Planet, Stampin' Addicts, Stampin' Connection (for SU! demos) or Stamp TV, please put GCA128 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~~~~ 

GCA #127 Winner is....

...... Gale from Hello - Gale is Playing with Paper.    She made an incredible butterfly explosion box.  You must check it out!  Gale please send me your address to amf1066@comcast.net and I will get a stampin' goodie package out to you!!

Thanks to all for stopping by, playing or commenting!!  There was a lot of green to be seen!!

Up Next:  GCA #128 - You Are In My Thoughts.

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Queen for A Day - DIC138

Hello all!!  WOW has this past week just flown by me!!!  Here we are at another UDI Inspiration Thursday.  This week Maria has provided us with a beautiful deep blue rose.  At first I thought, "What am I going to do with this??"

After I thought about it for a moment I remember the fabulous Springtime Vintage dsp and especially the sheet with the roses on it!!!  Since the rose is blue, I cut the dsp to show as many of the blue roses as possible.  Layered this on a card base of Not Quite Navy.  A leftover strip of the striped dsp was next and I topped that with Crumb Cake seam binding that I scrunched.

The interesting part of this card, I think, is the rose embellishment.  I just knew that I had to use one of the new rose adornments, available in the Occasions Mini Catalog.  But it needed to be built up just a tad and so I used 1 1 1/4" circle of NON, 3 1" circles of Baja Breeze that were crumpled up and then layered onto each other.  And just to set the rose apart slightly from the Baja Breeze card stock, I tore a piece of NON and have it peeking out.  This was then put on top of a banner strip cut from the Petal Cone die.

The layout is from the clean & simple blog, FTL130.  I also used a leftover piece of the scallop 1/2 circle from the Petal Cone die in Very Vanilla.  The sentiment was stamped in NON using the "You're a Gem" set.

If you have a minute, check out the UDI blog and play along with us!!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA # 127 - Let's Hear it for Green!!!

Hello all!!!  I'm sure you all so this coming didn't you??  Well, I just couldn't help it!  LOL!!

This week's challenge is to focus on the Green's in our card stock stash, in honor of St. Patrick's Day coming up.  Your creation does not have to be related to St. Patty's Day, but it just needs to have lots of green!!!  Use your card stock, embellishments or inks to bring it on!

This never-ending migraine is FINALLY gone!!!!!  I HATE those things!!!  Thank you to all who sent me well wishes!!

Finally I got the Petal Cone die from the Occasions mini and, of course, had to play with it right away!!!  I wasn't really sure what I was going for at first, except that I knew I wanted to put a "window" in one of the sides. 

The base of the cone is Pear Pizzazz and then I covered it with the Springtime Vintage dsp.  Of course, the green side!!  And to throw a little more color, I used the flowery side with Rich Razzleberry.  The handle, which you can't see all of, is using Pear Pizzazz twill.

And just because I am soooooo anal about things, I covered the inside with Very Vanilla!!  It just didn't look right with the window.  The button is one of the Sweet Stitches fabric buttons.  Once I finished this I wasn't sure what to do with it.  I was looking at the banner strips left over and decided to try greeting on them!  The ones I used are from the Bring on the Cake set from the Occasions mini.

Upload your creation to either your blog or to an online gallery and post a link to your creation to this blog entry by March 12, 2011 at 12 midnight. I will choose the winner the next day. If you upload your card to SCS, PaperCraft Planet, Stampin' Addicts, Stampin' Connection (for SU! demos) or Stamp TV, please put GCA127 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~~~~ 

GCA #126 Winner is....

..... Ruby M from And That's All She Wrote!!  Ruby made a delightful and colorful card this week.  I can feel spring in the air already!!!  Please send me your address to amf1066@comcast.net and I will get a stampin' package out to you!

Thanks to all who played along, stopped by and left comments!!  Spring will be here before we know it and I can't wait!!

I apologize for not having this up yesterday.  Have been battling a migraine for going on 3 days now and it's just knocked the oomph out of me!  It's slowly starting to go away now.  Thanks for being patient!

Up Next:  GCA #127 - Let's Hear it for Green!!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

It's A Celebration with Sock Monkey - DIC137!!!!

Hello all!!!  Here we are at Thursday again and time for another UDI Blog Inspiration challenge.  The piece that Maria provided us is a very calm and relaxing table setting, but I took some liberties with the piece and used a few other colors.

Finally here is my sample!!! Time just got away from me this week!  I decided to cover 2 challenges in one with this card.  My UDI sample, using the the colors of the inspiration piece of white, blue and a touch of pale green.  The other challenge is for the Late Night Stampers weekly challenge and this week it is to create a kids card!  Next to creating a masculine card, I find these just as difficult!!!

So when thinking of kids right away I thought of Sock Monkey.  And he hadn't seen any ink for awhile so I thought it was time!  LOL!  He was stamped onto Whisper White in black staz on and then watercolored with Crumb Cake and aquapainter.  The dsp I used is the Celebrations set, and is perfect for creating those kids cards with the bold primary colors.  I stamped him on the side I wanted and then cut out the parts and pieces.  Since I used the striped side I when I stamped him I tried to keep the stripes all going the same way.  I think I did ok!  Once he was put together I popped him on dimensionals and attached him to the card!

The cupcake was again stamped in Whisper White and then Pear Pizzaz for the holder.  I colored the "frosting" with the Soft Suede marker and covered it with Crystal Effects.  The cupcake is popped up with another dimensional.  I also added the Champagne glass glitter to the flame, but it's hard to see.

Not too sure about the ribbon tabs and glimmer brads, but I wasn't going to fuss with it once they were on there!  Dry embossed the top part of the Whisper White card base with the Perfect Polka Dots folder.  Even the panel across the front is popped up with dimensionals!!  Love my dimensionals!!
 
Please check out the UDI Blog and the other designers.  And play along this week!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~