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~~~

Fun with Faux Paper Folding

Hello all!!! Can you believe it - 3 days in a row of posts!!! Seriously, though I am making an early resolution to post more often, share my creations more with the groups I belong to and comment like crazy on creations that come through from other people! I know how much I love to get even one comment, so I am trying to repay that kindness to my fellow stampers.

This is an amazingly easy treat bag to make!! I received one in a recent swap and just knew that I had to CASE it!! This one was made as Halloween treat bag and I did the Faux Paper Folding from Technique Junkies. This is so easy to do too! I was amazed at easy it was.

On the swap I received, made by Robin Spinner, she used the ornament M&S die to create a window. I did the same thing with my Pumpkin sizzlet, but covered it with the faux paper folding. The swirls are made with the Scribbles sizzlet. I used the Modern Label punch with scrap dsp and stamped in Choc Chip "Happy Halloween" with Teeny Tiny Wishes.

As you can see in the photos I attached, I used pumpkin and mustard dsp for inside the pumpkin and the Cast a Spell dsp for the swirls and sentiment tab. I also used my new MS pumpkin punch that I just HAD to have!!

The button is literally tied on with the linen thread through both layers. Once untied the button wont fall off as it is glued on.

I used a cello bag, held in place with sticky strip, for the candy. I put a fun size Milky Way and Reese PB Cup inside.

Off this went to my UDI Stampin' Sis - Carol!! Hope she enjoys it!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

October Just One from Karyn

Hello all!! As you've seen from previous posts, I am a Technique Junkie! I may not do alot of the techniques, but I love learning and seeing the wonderful art that produced by the JT design team! And the JT members!

Every month there is a "Just One" teaming coordinated by Beth U. This is voluntary and sooo much fun! My partner for October was Karyn C. at A Froglady Creation. The idea is to send a card to each other using one of the many techniques available to us.

On this card Karyn used the "Drywall Stitching" technique on the frame. The leaves she used on here are metallic and so shiny and she even put shimmer mist on the scarecrow! There's even a row of metallic leaves inside.

I have gotten some great cards with this swap and love seeing the many different techniques in person.

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

Time Well Spent in my Stamp Room!!!

Early in November SU! sent all demos a Level 3 hostess set which will be in the new Spring/Summer 2008 catalog. I can now finally show you the first card I have made with this set. I entered this in a contest and so I had to wait until the contest was over to post it. The contest was the Card of the Month on Technique Junkies using the Colorwash Technique. Check out the TJ link for more great techniques.

I recently purchased one of the Martha Stewart border punches and had played around with on a scrap piece of Orchid Opulence and wanted to use this on my card. I really like how Certainly Celery, Orchid Opulence and Black go so well together. A few embellishments with ribbon, photo corners and brads completes the card!

I really like the versatility and coloring capabilities of this new set. And the sentiments are so accurate.

Ok I promised some pictures of my stamp room, which still in the process of completion. But I want to show you some before pictures and what my new room looks like so far!

See how cramped everything is and what a tight space I have. I know some people have very limited space available to them, but thankfully I am fortunate to live alone in a two bedroom house. I have switched rooms, and the room that was my master bedroom is now my stamp room/office. This room is approx. 12 x 15.

My new room has a great muted orange color on the walls called Butterscotch Sundae. It reminds me of Apricot Appeal mixed with some Pumpkin Pie! And the trim is Really Rust. Gotta love those SU! colors!!! The wood laminate flooring is still being installed, but the part that is complete makes the room feel so warm and inviting. I can't wait to get all of my supplies in here and set up. Right now I have my table set up in the living room and my stamping stuff everywhere in the house!!! Makes it challenging to stamp!

Gotta go, my grandson Cameron is is having a fit because he can't be in here with me!!

Take care and I'll have some exciting news to share with you in a few days!!


Happy Stamping!!!


~~~Ann~~~