GCA #60 - Forest Friends!!

Hello all!! This week we will tone it down a bit and go easy! I certainly didn't mean to scare anyone off last week with the Basket Weaving.

This week we are going to concentrate our stamps on all of those fun and fuzzy Forest Friends we have around us. This can be an image of deer, rabbits, owls or anything that lives in the forest. NOT a jungle, but in a forest.
My sample for you this week is one from my archives, but one I still love!!

The owl is Oliver Owl from Treehouse Stamps and is no longer available. Isn't he just adorable??

I added another set of wings to him, popped up with dimensionals and colored him with my SU! markers on watercolor paper.

The sketch is one that Ashley, from Treehouse Stamps, came up with.

The other technique I used on here is the "Out of the Box" technique. This is a fun an easy technique to do. Let me tell you how so you can try!

* Stamp your image on your cardstock, cut to fit the image right now. You will cut it down later.
* Color, emboss, paper piece or whatever you are going to do with your image now.
* Once you have your image the way you want it, determine how much of the image you want to be left "Out of the Box".
* Using scissors or a paper trimmer, VERY CAREFULLY trim off the parts you decided could go.
* Once you have the image trimmed, now you can mount it onto other layers, if desired.
Have fun with technique if you give it a whirl!!

IT IS NOT REQUIRED TO DO THIS TECHNIQUE FOR THIS WEEKS GCA!!!!

So, the challenge this week is to make a card, project or scrapbook page using any type of Forest Friends stamps, 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 October 5, 2009 at 12 midnight. I will choose the winner through a random drawing 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 GCA60(NO SPACE IN BETWEEN GCA AND 60) 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 yes, my challenge is open to everyone who visits, even if you live outside the US!!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #59 Winner is....

....Cathy!!! You can see her fabulous weaving on her card here! Thank you so much Cathy for giving this unique technique a try! (I have your address! : )

I certainly hope I didn't scare anyone away with this technique! It really is fun and easy to do. We'll try again sometime and I'll put together a tutorial.

Up next: GCA #60 - Forest Friends!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #59 - Basket Weaving!!

Hello all!!! Sorry for not posting during the week, even though I finally do have my new laptop!!! Still getting used to it and where I was this past week didn't have a direct Internet connection! I did get to know the ladies at Big Boy very well this week!! (They have WiFi).

Now, before you get all excited about this week's GCA and start thinking "I can't do this", let me explain! I use the term of basket weaving very lightly as I wasn't sure what else to call it! But it does resemble a basket weave, so we're going with that!

My sample for you this week is one I created for the IC on SCS. I used the picture of the bird on the bag, third one. So in recreating my card I did basket weaving with the Top Note.

I used To The Nines speciality dsp for my "bag" with 2 different patterns and used both sides of them. I ran this through my Big Shot to cut it and then backed it with a another Top Note die in WW. My strips on here are cut 1/2" wide. They can be any size, just depends on the look you are going for. My base card is Sahara Sand textured, layered with WW which I sponged Always Artichoke and Sahara Sand around. The corners were rounded with my corner rounder punch. I cut off the top part to resemble the bag and layered a strip of Chocolate Chip for my top band. Always Artichoke gg was used for the handle.

While making the bird was fun, it was also a challenge!! For the body I used a 2 1/2" circle, cut in half, out of Choc Chip textured. The bill was punched with the medium flower from my Boho Blossoms punch, and then I just played with until I placed it where it looked right! (So technical I know!) The eye is 1/4" circle from Summer Sun textured cs.

Now the fun part!! The tail feathers and wings. My first thought was to use the scallop circle punch and then cut pieces for them. Well, that is what I did for the wings, but that didn't work for the tail feathers. So, I looked at all of my punches and used the large heart in my Heart to Heart punch. For the middle feather I just cut one heart in half. Used my Tombo Mono glue to put them on with and the bird is done! I popped him up with dimensionals. Used the Modern Label & Word Window punch for the sentiment panel, which is also on dimensionals. Two little pearls were used as my accents. Again, used my new fave set Teeny Tiny Wishes for the sentiment.

So, the challenge this week is to make a card, project or scrapbook page using the Basket Weaving technique, 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 September 26, 2009 at 12 midnight. I will choose the winner through a random drawing 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 GCA59(NO SPACE IN BETWEEN GCA AND 59) 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 yes, my challenge is open to everyone who visits, even if you live outside the US!!!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #58 Winner is....

....Carol!!! You can see her fabulous card here. Thanks for playing along Carol!! Please send me your address to pinkstamper06@yahoo.com and I will get a stampin' goodie package out to you!

Up next: GCA #59 - Basket Weaving!!!

Thanks to all who played along this week and a BIG welcome to all the new players!!!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #58 - Think Pink & Black!

Hello all!!! Now that my monthly club is over for the day, I concentrate on getting the GCA posted. This week we are focusing on Pink & Black together, but you may add additional colors if you wish.

My sample I have for you today came from the Inspiration challenge on SCS. Stef gave us a unique children's clothing site to look at and the item I used is here: Jungle Print dress. The pink and black just jumped right out at me!! So as I was putting this together, that's how I came up with this week's challenge!

I also used Beate's WCS 97 for my layout. With the dress I used, this sketch just went perfectly with it!

My card is 4 3/4' x 4 3/4" square. The base is from Basic black text and then I used Pretty in Pink and Going Gray textured cs. The white cs is Shimmery White. Love it!!

I used Razzle Dazzle as my stamp set since I needed a way to mimic the print on the dress. I used my Pretty in Pink, Going Gray and Black markers on the "ribbon stripe" stamp and stamped across a piece of Shimmery White. The flower way stamped in PIP and then sponged around the edges with PIP and Going Gray.

I paper pierced around the top edge of the Going Gray circle and then mounted my main image circles with dimensionals. After, of course, I adhered the gray circle and striped layers. The sentiment was stamped in black staz on and the edges sponged with PIP. Punched it out with my Word Window punch and layered over a piece of black punched with the Modern Label. The right side is up with a dimensional.

A piece of gray taffeta along the bottom of the striped panels and some pearls on the top half finish it off!

So, the challenge this week is to make a card, project or scrapbook page using the colors of Pink & Black, 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 September 19, 2009 at 12 midnight. I will choose the winner through a random drawing 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 GCA58(NO SPACE IN BETWEEN GCA AND 58) 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 yes, my challenge is open to everyone who visits, even if you live outside the US!!!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #57 Winner is.....

....Redsmomma AKA Anna!!! You can see the adorable card she created with the sketch on her blog Red'smomma's Stuff. Thank you Anna for playing along this week!! Please email me your address at pinkstamper06@yahoo.com and I will get a stampin goodie package out to you!!

I must apologize to my followers who have packages coming! Last week was a week from you-know-where with work and I barely had time to eat, let alone do anything else!! Even stamp : ( Needless to say, all packages will be out in the mail this week!!

Up next: GCA #58 - Think Pink & Black!!!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

A Fall Thanks

I haven't played in one of Beate's weekend sketches in awhile and this one just called to me. Even though the idea in my head was just slightly different than what the end result was!!

This also qualifies for Shelli's September SoShelli challenge to create a fall card. This is a thanks going out to a very special friend!

My tree was first stamped in More Mustard and then thumped on with my markers to get the colors for the leaves. I don't know what I'll do if SU! ever retires Lovely As A Tree!! It was then stamped onto a piece of the new wood sheets I cut out with my circles die and Big Shot.

The leftover small circle I used with my sentiment and Vanilla HPH. The acorns are cut right from the dsp and the leaf is cut from the die.

The "faux" brads are made by stamping an unused pencil top eraser into the ink pad and then onto your cardstock. Not sure how I really feel about these on here, but the More Mustard panel just needed something!!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

Give Thanks - FS135

Hello all!!! I decided to finally ink this little turkey! He is now available in the Holiday Mini and is only $6.95!!!!

Finally, I've had a chance to play in the FS challenge!!! Seems like forever, but boy did August go by fast!Congrats Lori on being the FS this week!! Your gallery is filled with many different stamps and wonderful creations.

I chose this card: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1386466?&cat=500&ppuser=83483 I was drawn to the scored bottom portion and my ideas grew from there!

My changes are:

* Stamp set and colors - even thought I kept a white card base

* placed dots on my scored circles/crosses

* used the Big Shot and texture plates to create my scored area

* changed the ribbon style/presentation

* popped my top two panels with dimensionals

This is another card that fits with Shelli's challenge this month to create a fall card.

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #57 - A Simple Sketch

Hello all!! I hope all of you are enjoying a fabulous day where you are and the extended weekend! Here in my part of Jackson we having a blessedly beautiful sunny day, with just the perfect temps!!

For the GCA this week, we are focusing on a sketch. As you know I love to do sketch challenges and thought we haven't done one here in awhile. I two samples to show you the sketch, as I do not have a blank copy! I'm hoping once my new laptop arrives, with Adobe Photoshop, I can create blank sketches!!

The first sample uses dsp as the background panel, but you can use anything you like, or leave it off. The important parts of the sketch are the vertical panel, diamond piece, some type of embellie on the right and some type over on the left.

I created these cards awhile ago and I apologize if you've already seen them. The first uses the Wanted set with the Boho West dsp. I still have some of that and miss it! My colors I used on here are Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Sage Shadow and Very Vanilla.

The second sample uses the Polka Dots & Paisleys set, now retired. As you can see on this card I used a piece of cardstock for the larger BG panel which was stamped in Linen onto Bayou Blue in the same ink. The remaining colors I used were River Rock, Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla. I also used Blue Bayou dsp.

On both of these cards I raised the diamond panel up with dimensionals.

So, the challenge this week is to make a card, project or scrapbook page with the sketch 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 September 12, 2009 at 12 midnight. I will choose the winner through a random drawing 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 GCA57(NO SPACE IN BETWEEN GCA AND 57) 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 yes, my challenge is open to everyone who visits, even if you live outside the US!!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #56 Winner is....

....Maria!!! Congrats to you Maria and you can see her card on her blog Joyful Stamper. Thanks so much for playing along Maria!! If you would email me your address I will get a stampin goodie package out to you - pinkstamper06@yahoo.com.

All packages that need to be out will be in the mail on Tuesday morning. Sorry for the delay folks! My grandson Cameron went home today so know I can concentrate on stamping!!

Up next: GCA #57 - A Simple Sketch!!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

Featured Artist on Sherrill Graff's blog & a thanks!!

Hello all!! I just wanted to share with you that I am one of many featured artists on Sherrill Graff's blog: http://latenightstamper1.blogspot.com/. Check it out and see all the amazing SU! talent there is!!

And I want to share this beautiful thank you card I received from Rachel Jackson the other day. She used the wonderful Flower Fancy set. The blooms are watercolored and then cut out!! Plus, this came all the way from Australia!!

Thanks Rachel for a beautiful card!

Happy Stamping!

~~~Ann~~~