A Hoot of a Halloween!!!

Hello all!!

With fall, and Halloween, fast approaching I've been playing around with some ideas for it.  My stamp club gals are not always into investing in Halloween specific stamps, so I wanted to come up with some alternatives using other items.

This card uses everyday stamp images/punches, but in a Halloween way!  I was playing around with my Sprinkles of Life set and coordinating punch, and this idea just kind of popped into my head!

I haven't played with my owl punch in a looooong time, but I love how he fits in beautifully with Halloween.

Since I was just playing around for me right now, some of the items on here are retired now.  The base card, and top layer, are using Confetti Cream.  I ran the top layer through the Big Shot using the Woodgrain embossing folder.  Finished that off with some sponging in Early Espresso to give the look of a tree.  The circle was punched using the 2 1/2" circle punch.  I wanted the owl to appear as if he sitting inside the tree.  The branch he is sitting on is from Sprinkles of Life.  Stamped in Chocolate Chip onto Chocolate Chip card stock.  I used two.

My idea for the clouds was to give them a "dark night" look.  They were stamped in Smoky Slate ink and then I used Marina Mist and Basic Gray stampin' markers to give them  the dark night look.  I blended the colors with a blender pen.  For a little added punch I put crystal effects on the colored parts.

The sentiment comes from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

So, what do you think?

Happy Stamping,

Ann

GCA #132 - Anything Goes with a Technique!!

Hello all!!!  Sorry for the late posting.  Actually, I thought I had it posted earlier and just needed to add my sample!  Oh, well!

So, the challenge this week is "Anything Goes" theme wise, but with the additional twist of using a technique. Is it required to use a specific technique? No. I just like finding all the new techniques that I can!! If you do use a technique you found on a blog, in a paper craft mag or even one you came up with, let us know so we can check it out too!!  A couple of sites I can lead you to is SCS - Try a New Technique challenge and Technique Junkies.

Actually the sample I have for you tonight is one of the technique cards we did at club today.  This one is called Faux Mother-of-Pearl.  And does it pack a WOW!!  A little messy, but the results are worth it.

Started with a card base of Daffodil Delight, folded at the top.  On a piece of Whisper White the swirl from Baroque Motifs was stamped in Wild Wasabi and the flower in Tangerine Tango.  Once those were stamped the entire piece was run through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice ebf.  Sort of gives the panel the look of fabric, doesn't it?  I took my inspiration for this card from one I saw on Stampin' Connection by Brenda Ruse.

The butterflies were cut with the Butterfly die and Big Shot with glossy white card stock. 

To create the Faux MOP look you need shimmer paint, preferably white, plain or glossy white card stock, paper plate, plastic wrap and ink.  Here's how it goes:

1.  Pour a little of the shimmer paint onto a paper plate.  Scrunch up the plastic wrap and lightly dip into the paint.  Dab off excess if needed.
2.  Dab the paint over the image, or panel, randomly.  Leave parts of the card stock open.
3.  Set aside to dry.  Doesn't take long.
4.  Once dry, use a sponge or brayer to cover the image or panel with the ink of your choice.  On my sample the large butterfly is sponged with Daffodil Delight and the smaller one with Tangerine Tango.
5.  Set these aside to dry for a few minutes.  Then embellish and finish your card!

Daffodil Delight 1/8" taffeta and white crochet thread finishes off the butterfly.

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 23, 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 GCA132 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 #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~~~~ 

An Old Fashioned Christmas! - DIC119

Hello all!!!  I hope everyone is doing good and, of course, finding time to stamp!!!  Halloween is now behind us, and Thanksgiving and Christmas soon approaching.  Where does the time go???

The UDI Inspiration pic this week is a basket of different breads and wheat.  I'm not quite sure how I got from that to a Christmas card, but it's where I felt lead.

The "wreath" is made using the new, and gorgeous, Deck the Halls fabric.  If you haven't seen or felt this fabric, you are missing out!  I cut four of the large scallop circles from the Scallop Circles #2 die and my Big Shot.  My idea for this card came from a Christmas card on the front of our monthly demo magazine, Stampin' Success, but I made a few changes.  They used the scallop circle from the Pennant die.  Since my circles are just a bit bigger, I added additional layers to the center.

The button is from the new Deck the Halls buttons currently available in the Holiday mini.  I LOVE those buttons!!!  I used the new stick on Pearls for the center.  Another fave of mine!

The ribbon tags are using the Always Artichoke seam binding ribbon, also available in the Holiday mini.  My card base is 4.25 square from Soft Suede textured and layered with a piece of Very Vanilla.  I ran this through the Perfect Polka dots eb folder and then aged with my Distressing Kit inks.  The saying is from Teeny Tiny Wishes and held on with linen thread tied around the button.

Don't forget to check out the UDI blog to see the inspiration piece and what the other team members did!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Just for You Clouds - DIC113

Hello all!!!  It's time again for another inspiration challenge on UDI!!  You can check out the UDI Blog and see the fabulous inspiration piece Maria has provided and the rest of the design team samples. 

Just so you have some idea where my card came from, the piece this week is clouds.  A picture of big, white, fluffy clouds.  My first thought when I saw the picture was a circle card and after that I just played around.

As you can see, my card base is made with the large scallop circle die in Marina Mist.  I sponged the edges with White craft to give it the "cloud" feel.  The Whisper White layer was cut with the clear circle (large) die from a piece of scrap that I had run through with the Perfect Polka Dots eb folder.

Now, my circles on the front came from an idea that is included with the new, and awesome, fabric in the Holiday Mini.  You get 4 ideas of projects to make with the fabric you purchase.  There is a project for a circle brooch and I attempted to mimic that with card stock.  I layered different pieces of Marina Mist, Whisper White and Candy Cane dsp.  I used the circles #2 die to cut them.  Do you see a pattern here??  : )

Now the circles didn't turn out quite like I wanted, but then I wasn't sure what I wanted it to look like!!  The top circle is up on dimensionals and the whole piece is up on dimensionals.  I used one of the awesome new buttons from the Candy Cane set, which you can get in the Holiday mini.  These are fabulous!!  I used white embroidery thread through the button holes.  A piece of Marina Mist 1/8" taffeta is tied at the top of the circle.

To finish off the card, punched a large oval from the Brushed Silver and layered it with a small oval punched from the Whisper White embossed piece.  I used the stamp from Teeny Tiny Wishes in Marina Mist.  Just to add some further interest, and every cloud has a silver lining, right?, I punched two leaves from the bird punch and stuck them behind the oval panel.

Not my usual style, but it's nice to go outside your comfort zone every once in awhile!!  Hope you enjoy it!  And check out the UDI Blog when you have a minute!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~