Just a Little Thanks!!

Hello All!! I just wanted to send out a HUGE thanks to everyone who stopped by blog during the recent Royal Blog Tour!! All the comments on projects are so wonderfully appreciated!!

So, my card for you today is, can you guess?, a thank you card!! I made this card back in April of this year for Featured Stamper challenge #113 - Julie (AKA JustWriteDesigns), and what an awesome gallery she has!

I chose this card to case: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...;ppuser=137985

My changes are:

* Colors, Stamps

* Flipped the layout to the right

* Used the new Window sheets instead of acrylic

* Added silver brads

Thanks for the inspiration Julie!!

Again, thanks to everyone who stopped by!! Hope to see you back many times!!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

Tres Chic Daisies - Dirty Girl Style!

Hello all!!! Now before you get all excited, I am NOT showing an X-rated card!! This past weekend, on SCS, they had their annual Dirty Girl challenges for Fan Club members.

So far I have completed ONE card for this years Dirty Girl challenges!!! What a slacker I am, but while I had grand stamping plans for today, they went by the wayside!

I did manage to combine 3 of the challenges into this one card, though!

1. DTGD09Becca_Stamps - to use punches/die cuts
2. DTGD09gbedwright - Make your own dsp with stamps
3. DTGD09DeborahLynneS - Texturize

I think the challenge for Becca is obvious with my use of the Top Note and Daisies dies.

I may be pushing it with Betty's challenge for creating our own dsp with stamps! I used the Tres Chic BG stamp in Crushed Curry on CC cardstock.

And the texturize part was completed by running my Crushed Curry Top Note piece through my crimper. (I am in love with this tool again!!)

The 1/2 pearls are from the Pretties Kit and the daisies are up with double dimensionals!

Happy Stamping!!! And I hope you continue to enjoy the Royal Blog Tour!! Don't forget to collect all the clues for the Big Shot prize!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #51 - Christmas in July!!!

Hello all!! I hope you have had the time to ride the Royal Blog Tour and pick up your clues for the Big Shot giveaway on the main tour page!!! If not, get started NOW!!! You only have until Tuesday, July 28th @ 11:59p to get your name in!!! But, don't forget to come back here and start on those Christmas cards!!!

This week we are focusing on Christmas cards. There are no other restrictions, other than your card must be a Christmas holiday theme. Hanukkah and Kwanzaa count too!

My samples for you this week are from my archives, but are still great samples!! (I think so anyway!)


My first sample is a tent topper, just like we did for last week. I sent this in to SU! in 2007 for one of the monthly contests, but I didn't win. : ( I keep trying though, and I did win last year!! (Just sent two more samples in yesterday - will let you know how it turns out!)

This card uses Baby Jesus is Born (now retired), but I just love! This set is excellent for watercoloring, paper piecing or single color line art. On this sample I used my watercolor wonder crayons and a blender pen to color.
My cardstock colors are Always Artichoke and Purely Pomegranate. The dsp is Brocade Background. I made a total of 20 of these and STILL have some left for this year!!!


My second sample uses Seasonal Whimsy (also retired), but I think is still a cute and versatile set. This was done all in blues and the finished size is 4 x 4.
The main image is done with the Crayon Resist technique. The sentiment circle is finished off with a layer of Crystal Effects.

So, for this week's GCA you need to create a card, project or scrapbook page that uses a Christmas holiday theme, upload it either to your blog, or to an online gallery and post a link to your card to this blog entry as a comment by August 1, 2009 at 12 midnight. I will choose the winner through a random number generator and post the next Sunday.

Even if you can't make the drawing deadline, PLEASE feel free to participate in the challenge and upload your creations at any time. I would love to see it! If you upload your card on SCS, Stampin' Addicts or Paper Craft Planet, please put GCA51(NO SPACE IN BETWEEN GCA AND 51) in the keyword section. That way everyone can look at all of the creations at once! If you've been waiting to join in the fun, jump on in and have some fun!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #50 Winner is....

..... is Rachel!!! Congrats to you Rachel for being the lucky recipient of this week's GCA prize!! You can view her wonderful creation on here blog Stamping with Rachel.

Since Brandy and Cathy were the only other players this week, I will be sending them a stampin' goodie package too!!! Thank you ladies for being devoted stampers with my challenge.

Rachel please email me at pinkstamper06@yahoo.com with your address so I can get this package out to you!! Thanks again for joining in and playing!!

Up next: GCA #51 - Christmas in July!! (You just KNOW I had to do this once this month!!! : ) )

I hope you take the time to ride the Royal Blog Tour. There are 4 tours going on for the next 3 days and lots of amazing and talented stampers!! Plus, many have Blog Candy and the Tour itself is giving away a BIG SHOT!!! Just click on the crown in the tour post above to get to the home page for all the details!!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Royal Blog Tour

Hello all!!! Here we are, finally, on the LateNightStampers Royal Blog Tour!! I hope you are enjoying all the stops, finding much inspiration and making new friends along the way!!

As you know, this tour is all about showcasing new product from the 2009/2010 Idea Book & Catalog. And what awesome stamp sets, accessories and ideas are in this book!!! If you don't have a new catalog yet, RUN to your demonstrator and get one!!

For my stop I am highlighting the adorable new set, Animal Stories. This set has four stamps: Giraffe, Whale, Elephant and Owl. I used each of the stamps, on four separate samples, so you can see just how cute they are!!

My first sample is using the whale stamp and I knew right away that I wanted to do a scrapbook page of my grandson Cameron playing in the tub!! My colors came from the toys in the tub, but the picture printed them out darker than they really are. The base is 12 x 12 Brilliant Blue with Only Orange, Crushed Curry and Whisper White as my accents. The WW piece was stamped with the multi cirlcle stamp from Circle Circus in the same colors, spritzed with Real Red marker and then run through the crimper.

I tore the edge of the Only Orange piece behind the WW and along the bottom. The torn strips along the bottom are to mimic "waves". The whales were stamped on WW in the same colors, punched out with the 1 3/4" circle punch and then I used my Circle Scissor Plus to cut the 2" circles. I ran a piece of Crushed Curry & WW through the Big Shot with the Top Note die for my journaling tag. The pictures, whales and journaling tag are all popped up with dimensionals.

My second sample features the elephant, and in Melon Mambo too!!! I do believe this is my favorite new In-Color this year!!! A very quick and easy card to make too. The card base Whisper White layered with Melon Mambo and MM squares in the Razzleberry Lemonade dsp. My elephant was stamped in Melon Mambo, cut out, layered on top of the medium daisy die with a dimensional and glued to the card. The new In-Color polka dotted gg is my accent, along with a white 5/16" brad. My sentiment comes from the On Your Birthday set. There was a glob of ink in between the ( ), so I punched a 1/2" circle in WW to cover it up!

My third sample uses the giraffe, and I have to say he was my least favorite of this set, at first! But I have come to adore him and all the possibilities with him. This card is a tent topper card and also uses the Tall Tales dsp, which coordinates with the Animal Stories set. To make the mane and tail stand out, I stamped the giraffe in Choc Chip onto Kraft, cut them out and glued them down. I thought this would make a cute baby card, so I pulled out Teeny Tiny Wishes for my sentiment. I used the scallop circles #2 die for the "tent" part and the double layered sentiment.

My fourth, and last, sample uses the owl. I've seen many cards done using two owls together, like lovebirds and so I had to give it a try. My card base is Whisper White with Garden Green, Barely Banana, Certainly Celery and Flock Together dsp. Since the only "branch" I have is in the Eastern Blooms set, I went with it. I colored the branch with my Choc Chip marker and the flowers with with So Saffron. I then added dots with my 2 way glue pen and added Dazzling Diamonds to the centers. And since these two owls are so lovey dovey, I made this a wedding card, using the Teeny Tiny Wishes set once again!!

I hope you have enjoyed this stop on the tour and if you liked what you saw, bookmark this page for even more great ideas. And if you like challenges, check out my Getting Creative with Ann challenge that is posted every Sunday. You just might be the next lucky recipient of a stampin' goodie package!!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #50 - Full of Surprises!!

Hello everyone!!! Here we are at the 50th Getting Creative with Ann Challenge!! I just can't believe that I've made it to 50 challenges so far, and I just love doing this!! I am so happy to have inspired so many people and I hope to keep inspiring you with many more challenges and projects I put up on my blog!!

Now, as I promised there is an awesome, (well I think it is!), stampin goodie package up for grabs this week. Now you can see what you are working for this week!! Here's just a few of the items in the package:

* Ribbon jar full of many different ribbons

* Pack of Delicate Dots dsp (SAB 09)

* Brand new/Never used Lizzie Anne Designs stamp set - Joles Fleurs

* Set of 10 cards by me : )

* And various odds & ends

For the challenge this week, it is a combo of 3 things!

First, is the sketch. I love sketches, and finding new ones, but I also like to go back to old sketches and do them with new stuff!! So, for this part click on the SCS Sketch Challenge link and check it out!! This is SC134 and it is a Tent Topper card!! If you've never made one before, they are fun and addicting!! To help get your creative juices flowing, check out the SC134 gallery.

Second, you must use only the colors of Orange, Yellow, Green and White on your card. Any shades of these colors will work, and they DO NOT have to be specific to SU!

Third, and final, is NO FLOWERS!!!!! You cannot use flowers of any kind, either with stamps, designer paper, die cuts or embellishments. I know I have way too many flower stamps and so I need to move outside that comfort zone, and I thought I would take all of you with me!!

So, for this week's GCA you need to create a card, project or scrapbook page that uses all of the criteria above, upload it either to your blog, or to an online gallery and post a link to your card to this blog entry as a comment by July 25, 2009 at 12 midnight. I will choose the winner through a random number generator and post the next Sunday.

Even if you can't make the drawing deadline, PLEASE feel free to participate in the challenge and upload your creations at any time. I would love to see it! If you upload your card on SCS, Stampin' Addicts or Paper Craft Planet, please put GCA50(NO SPACE IN BETWEEN GCA AND 50) in the keyword section. That way everyone can look at all of the creations at once! If you've been waiting to join in the fun, jump on in and have some fun!!

Today is my new catalog Open House and I am busy finalizing everything for that, but as soon as I can I will get a sample up for you and a look at the stampin goodie package!!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #49 Winner is...

....Ineke!!! You can see her fabulous winged card on her blog here. Thank you so much for playing along with my challenge this week!! Please email me your address to pinkstamper06@yahoo.com and I will send you out some stampin' goodies!!

And a big thank you to all who participated this week too!! I am so happy to see returning players and lots of new faces too!!

Up Next: GCA #50 - Full of Surprises!!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

Artisan Award 2008 3 - D project

Hello everyone!!! Well, I showed you the three scrapbook pages I completed for last years Artisan Award, and now I want to show you the 3-D projects.

My first project is using a $2.99 12" grapevine wreath I found at Hobby Lobby. From there I took my inspiration from many things to put together this wreath.

I started by wrapping the So Saffron wide ribbon around it and then played with the ends to get them to "dangle" the way I wanted! The bow was made just by looping the ribbon around and then I tied it together with green floral wire. I used the Old Olive striped and wide gg. The piece of Very Vanilla taffeta is just looped through the bow. I then used parts from the Pretties Kit and threaded them onto the ribbon. I like how the crystals and pearls adds a touch of elegance to the wreath.

To make my many flowers I used multiple items. Some are the silk flowers from the Pretties Kit, others came from the Die Cut blooms and some of the smaller ones came from the Flower Fusion kit. To enhance some of the flowers I either paper pierced around the edges, shaded them with ink or used pearls and crystal rhinestones for the centers.

My leaves are an artificial leaf branch I cut down and inserted where I thought it looked best. I then added some artificial moss to fill in the gaps.

I haven't made another one since, but I would like too! For probably around $5-6, you can have a springtime wreath too!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Cameron U R .....

....too cute for words!!!

Hello all!! This is third scrapbook page I entered in the 2008 Artisan Awards. This one is 8 1/2 x 11.

The colors, stripes and layout really came from the colors in the picture and the shirt he was wearing that day! And, for some reason, he was being shy!!

The circles are chipboard covered with Certainly Celery dsp and the stars are "naked" chipboard!!

I hope you've enjoyed looking at these pages this week, and next week I'll post pics of the other items I entered.

I didn't enter this year, only because I ran out of time!! I had every intention, but just too many other things! I am sending some projects in for the monthly art contests SU! holds every month and once I know how that goes, I'll post those pics!!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

All About the Boy!!!

Hello all!!! Here is the second scrapbook page I did for the 2008 Artisan Award. This is a 12 x 12 page. Again, I do like the end result but I think I had one too many pics on here!!

This page is all about my son, Gregory and my grandmother, hence the title! He was the light of her life and he loved her right back! I am so fortunate that my grandmother, whom I loved dearly, was able to have 3 wonderful years with her great-grandson!!

These pictures were taken on our train trip to Charleston, South Carolina and back. What fun we had! Greg and I had lived there for awhile and we went down to move our belongings back home.

I used rub-ons on the arrows, and was glad I could finally use that punch!! (Still don't use it very much!!) And the pictures I used on here are all "pictures" of pictures. I wasn't going to send in originals when I had nothing else to print!!

If you have any tips/ideas/suggestions for scrapbooking and such, please let me know!! Now with 2 grandchildren of my own I need to do more of it!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

San Francisco Memories!!!

Hello all!! As many of know I went to San Francisco in January 2008 for a vacation/conference!! I went with my BFF, Deb and we had a blast!!

I completed this scrapbook page last March as one of the Artisan Award entries for 2008, but alas I didn't win. : ( However, I did see many of my items I entered on display at convention and that is what I have for you this week. (I'm out of town for work this week!)

Now, I don't scrapbook very much and find it difficult, even though I'm not sure why! It's really nothing more than creating a LARGE card!! This is a 12 x 12 layout.

And while I really like the end result of this, I think it is a bit busy. I loved the circle idea I got from the many scrapbook magazines I poured through!! And I thought the use of the hostess set from last Spring was quite in keeping with my theme of friends and vacation!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

An Apple for You - FS127

Hello all!!! This week the Featured Stamper on SCS is schmircat - AKA Kelly!! She is the sweetest person and is always leaving wonderful comments in the gallery!

The minute I saw her card here http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1386260?cat=500&ppuser=146898 I knew this was the one for me!!

My changes:

* Colors - somewhat & Stamp sets

* Added a couple of layers

* Used an eyelet border punch for one layer

* Card size is 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 (not sure what size Kelly's is)

Thanks for the inspiration this week Kelly!!

I used the new Teeny Tiny Wishes set again!!! I'm tellin' ya, if there is one set you buy, this should be it!! I also used Tart & Tangy and Linen. I was so sad when SU! retired this BG stamp, but I will still use it!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

A Royal Blog Tour!!

As you can tell from the announcement in the right side bar, I am part of the Royal Blog Tour that will begin this month!! Actually the dates are the 26, 27, & 28th!! As this is my first tour, I am very excited to be on here. This tour will focus on all Stampin' Up! products from the new catalog!!! So be sure to check out the Royal Blog Tour blog to see what's coming and, to get a behind-the-scenes look at all of the Queen's & Princessess!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #49 - Spread Your Wings & Fly!

Hello all!!! I hope this finds everyone enjoying a beautiful Sunday afternoon in their neck of the woods, as I am.

For this week's GCA, you are to use anything on your card, project or scrapbook layout that has wings and flies! Such as, birds, butterflies or even fairies if you want!

This week's card is another from my archives that I haven't posted before. (And if I have, I'm sorry!)

This card uses the Garden Whimsy, which I had to have after convention in 2007!!! This is a very simple, clean and cute card. I alos used the only color I hardly EVER use, Orchid Opulence!!! But paired with Basic Black and Certainly Celery, it works!

So, for this week's GCA you need to create a card, project or scrapbook page that uses any images that fly, upload it either to your blog, or to an online gallery and post a link to your card to this blog entry as a comment by July 18, 2009 at 12 midnight. I will choose the winner through a random number generator and post the next Sunday.

Even if you can't make the drawing deadline, PLEASE feel free to participate in the challenge and upload your creations at any time. I would love to see it! If you upload your card on SCS, Stampin' Addicts or Paper Craft Planet, please put GCA49(NO SPACE IN BETWEEN GCA AND 49) in the keyword section. That way everyone can look at all of the creations at once! If you've been waiting to join in the fun, jump on in and have some fun!!

And for next week, GCA #50, don't forget I will have an awesome stampin' goodie package for the lucky winner!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #48 Winner is....

....Irit Shalom!!!! You can see her amazing scrapbook layout on her blog Irit Shalom's Designs. Irit please email me your address to pinkstamper06@yahoo.com and will put some stampin' goodies in the mail to you!! Thanks for playing along this week!!

And thank you, to everyone who also joined in this week!! I apologize for being so later in the day, I got busy cleaning up my apartment!

Up next: GCA #49 - Spread Your Wings and Fly!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #48 - The Basic Tools!

Hello all!! I hope everyone had an enjoyable 4th, and safe one!! For this week's GCA, we are focusing on those basic tools we all had when we first started stamping!!

I have been using my crimper A LOT these days, and every time I use it I remember why I like it, but many times I forget to use it!

Both of my samples for you are using the crimper, but you DO NOT have to use a crimper. Any basic tool you really haven't pulled out and used in awhile is perfect! Remember when we used a light box and stylus for dry embossing? So make sure you're tools are basic!

My first sample I made during the week I spent in Indy for training. I took 1/2 of my stamp room with me, I think! I'm sure the hotel staff didn't know what to think! But, I had a lot of parts and pieces of things and used them to create some cards, and this is one of them!

The black piece was put through the crimper, length wise and not real tight, to create a subtle textured BG. The rest just kind of went together by chance, and there it is. I kept trying to put something at the top of the card, but nothing ever looked right and now I like it just fine! Actually, it is one of my favorites!

My second sample was created for this weeks Color Combo challenge on SCS: Kraft, Night of Navy and So Saffron to make a quick and simple thank you card for a co-worker. Actually, my layout/design came from a shirt she was wearing one day!! The only stamping on here is the sentiment. All the rest is Big Shot or punching!! I used my Simple Flower embosslit and Little Leaves sizzlet for the main images and to add a little texture, I crimped the So Saffron layer.

Again, I used the new set Teeny Tiny Wishes for sentiment. I am so loving this new set, and I can't seem to stop using it!! There is a sentiment for almost any occasion in there. The polka dotted ribbon I used is the new Crushed Curry gg. Yummy isn't it?

So, for this week's GCA you need to create a card, project or scrapbook page that uses any of your BASIC TOOLS, upload it either to your blog, or to an online gallery and post a link to your card to this blog entry as a comment by July 11, 2009 at 12 midnight. I will choose the winner through a random number generator and post the next Sunday.

Even if you can't make the drawing deadline, PLEASE feel free to participate in the challenge and upload your creations at any time. I would love to see it! If you upload your card on SCS, Stampin' Addicts or Paper Craft Planet, please put GCA48(NO SPACE IN BETWEEN GCA AND 48) in the keyword section. That way everyone can look at all of the creations at once! If you've been waiting to join in the fun, jump on in and have some fun!!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA 47 Winner is....

....Cathy!!! You can see her wonderful card on SCS here.

Thank you to all who played along again this week!!! I hope everyone is enjoying their 4th of July weekend.

Up next: GCA #48 - The Basic Tools!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

Thinking of You in Red, White & Blue!!

Hello all and Happy Friday!!! I am on a 4 day weekend, and I am soooo happy!!! I have no special plans, except to do just whatever it is I wish! (Even though I have plenty of things to keep me occupied!!) I'm going to be working on my upcoming New Catalog Open House scheduled for July 19th and just plan stamping! I have a lot of cards to post for you that I completed during the week I was in Indianapolis.

My card for you today is based on 2 challenges. The first is from the StampUpLNStampers yahoo group I belong too, to make a card using any shades of Red, White and Blue! The second challenge is from 2 Sketches 4 You weekly sketch.

The base card is Whisper White, and then I used Ruby Red textured and Night of Navy for my red and blue. All except the base card and the RR text piece came from my scrap bin! Even the daisies!

The daisies were stamped with the Sanded BG in either Ruby Red or NON, very lightly, so as to not overpower the card. I punched a 3/4" circle in NON and placed a large Filigree brad over it. The entire daisy ensemble is popped up on double dimensionals!!

The new Teeny Tiny Wishes phrases set is what I used for my sentiment. This is an awesome and versatile set, much like Everyday Flexible Phrases but enhanced. This was one of the sets I picked out with my SAB rewards.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th, and you can find time to stamp!! Don't forget for my GCA #50, I will have an awesome blog prize! Sneak peeks to be shown this weekend!!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

A Blog Award from Raindropecho!!

Ann, from Raindropecho Designs, gave me this wonderful blog award awhile back and I am just now posting it!! I am such a slacker!! Thanks Ann for thinking of me and passing this award onto me!

Now, as with any of these blog awards, the idea is to pass on the appreciation to fellow bloggers.

There a couple of fun "rules" (well, more like guidelines) to this award:

Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

My chosen bloggers are:

stuff by carol (Carol M)

Brandy's Stamp & Share (Brandy W)

Lady & the Stamp (Emma F)

PaperPatty (Patty B)

Stop and Stamp the Roses (Michelle - sf9erfan)

Where M&M's Gather (Charlene M)

Got Rubber...Will Stamp (Wendy H)

Stamping 411 (The Operators - a blog filled with useful stamping tips)

Rubber Stamping Diva (Samantha P - a blog filled with all kinds of projects)

Racing Towards Creativity (Jennifer E - my UDI stampin sis!)

Clean & Simple Stamping (Natasha T and others)

Stampin' Fevre (Eileen F)

Vera Staps (Vera S)

Inspiration in Action (Gretchen B)

A Time to Stamp (Michelle H)

I hope you can find time to visit these blogs and find even more inspiration for your creations!!! Thanks again Ann!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~