GCA #86 - What's Your Inspiration?

Hello all!!!  I hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend and my thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the recent tornado.

This week I want you to look around at your surroundings.  What do you see?  Is there a picture you have that you have thought many times would make a nice card, or do you have an awesome view from your windows?  Whatever may be around your home that gives you inspiration, that is what I want you to use for this week.

When you upload your creation, please, if possible, upload a picture of your inspiration piece too!  If you can't, then tell us about it so we know what you were inspired by.

My inspiration came from the new "Welcome" mat I recently purchased for my front door.  Every time I come home, I look at it and think "That would make a neat card."  Well, today I sat down and created it!

I started with a card base of Kraft (soon-to-be Crumb Cake) and layered that with Whisper White and Gable Green.  I am trying to use as many retiring colors I can now so I wont have a ton left over come the new catalog year.

Since the mat has white polka dots in the background, I ran my Gable Green layer through the Big Shot with the Perfect Details texture plate.  I then colored all of the dots with my white gel pen.  They're a little difficult to see on the the Gable Green.

I used another strip of Kraft/Whisper White across the bottom and covered it with a piece of the Melon Mambo polka dotted gg, except I flipped it over.  Way too many polka dots!  My flower comes from the Pretties Kit and place a large white grommet in the center and filled it with clear chunky and pink fine glitter.  I also ran the Melon Mambo pad around the edges of the flower to make it pop a little more.

The butterflies were made with the awesome Beautiful Wings embosslit using Razzleberry Lemonade dsp.  And for a little more bling, I added two of the small rhinestones from the Eggcellent Easter Egg kit on my sentiment panel.

Not sure who this will go too, as I have my mother's day card already made, but I do have many friends at work who are mother's!!

Upload your creation to either your blog or to an online gallery and post a link to your creation to this blog entry by May 1, 2010 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 GCA86 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 #85 Winner is....

.... Deb, from Paper, Ink, Scissors & Stamps!!!  You can click on the link to see her awesome card she created!  De, please send me your address to pinkstamper06@yahoo.com and I will get a stampin' goodie package out to you!

Thanks to all who stopped by, looked, played along or left comments!  You are very much appreciated!

Up Next: GCA #86 - What's Your Inspiration?

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

A Blog Award from Kate!!!

A little while ago Kate, from Katie's Creations,presented me with this lovely blog award. Kate is so sweet, leaves lovely comments and plays along with my challenges frequently. Check out her blog to see her wonderful work.

Here are the rules for this award: add a link and a note about the person who gave you this award and then pass this award on to 5 people you recently found and love. You also have to share 7 things about yourself. Easy-peasy lemon squeezy!

Seven things about ME:

* I have been a Registered Nurse for 17 years. I have my Master's in Nursing Education and currently work for the State of Michigan as a Nurse Consultant for Long Term Care.

* Most people know this, but I love to brag about them!! I have 2 very spoiled, but very well loved grandsons!!! (And yes, I am much to young to be a grandma!) Cameron will be 5 in May and Malaki is 10 months.

* I love animals!! I've always had a pet, cat or dog, growing up and I currently have 3 cats: Oscar, Little Bit and Esham. I also had a bearded dragon lizard, but he passed in December.

* Can't draw a stick figure to save my life, but that is the wonderful part of rubber stamping!!!!

* Until I went to a Stampin' Up! party in 2002, I had never heard of card making or seen a rubber stamp. I had heard of scrapbooking, but thought that was too hard for me!!! Became an SU! demo in April 2005, so that means I can walk across stage this year at convention.

* I love to travel!!! I've been to England, Paris, many states here in the US and on a medical mission trip to Guatemala. There are many more places yet for me to see.

* I am single, and like it very much!!!!!! My son can't seem to understand that!

Here are 5 blogs I've found recently and love to keep going back to:

* Debra's Stamp Life
* schwooo! by stamping angie
* Stampin' Stress Away with Carole' Anne
* The Color Dare!
* Cards & Things challenge blog

When you have a moment, check out these awesome blogs!!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~~Ann~~~~

GCA #85 - Use That Chipboard!!

Hello all!!! I hope this finds you have a wonderful Sunday and that you had some time to stamp today! I had my monthly club today and it was fun spending the afternoon with my girls!!

Now, how many of you have that wonderful embellishment, chipboard, but rarely use it??? Are you a hoarder, or is it you just don't think to pull it out? I think I am a little bit of both!!

For this week's GCA, you need to use some type of chipboard on your creation. It can be the basic chipboard that you leave plain, cover with dsp, ink it up or distress it. Let your imagination go wild!!

Don't have any chipboard you say? No problem!!! You can use any type of thick cardboard type material and cut, or punch, any type of image to make your own chipboard. Many stores, as does SU!, sell chipboard in sheets so you can customize it. But, I know many people will recycle cereal boxes, cardboard boxes or even the white backing sheet that comes with all of the SU! dsp! And, if you bought any of the Sending Love dsp in the current mini, there is a thick piece of chipboard with it!!

I'm finishing up my sample right now and will post it soon!!

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 24, 2010 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 GCA85 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~~~

Winner of GCA #84 is....

.... Stacy!!! You can see her wonderful, 4-drawer/easel card on her blog Stacy's Scraptastic World.

Stacy please email me your address to: pinkstamper06@yahoo.com so I can put a stampin' goodie package in the mail for you. And, I wanted sooo to leave you a comment on your blog, but it wouldn't let me!

Thanks to all who again have stopped by and commented, took a peek or played along!

Up Next: GCA #85 - Use That Chipboard!!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Pre-Convention fun with Late Night Stampers!!!

Hello all!!! Many times you have heard me mention the Late Night Stampers group I belong to through Yahoo. Well, there is a non-demo side and a demos only side, and I belong to both!!

But this is all about the demos this time. Sherrill Graff, group mom and leader of the Late Night Stampers, hosts several Pre-Convention events the week of convention and throughout the week. Now, I have not attended any of these events, but I have heard they are FABULOUS and well worth the money. And, it's a great way to meet new friends and see old ones!

To find out all about the events keep reading and click on any of the active links and you will find out even more info!!

Going to Stampin' Up! Convention 2010 in Salt Lake City, Utah? ... think about this :)

Prizes, prizes, and more prizes!!!!

Late Night Stampers... WANTS YOU!!!

If you are going to Stampin' Up! Convention this year, 2010, consider going early. Join the Late Night Stampers -- which is FREE! -- and join us at the following pre-Convention events. Love them!

Learn more about joining HERE.
Plan to attend Stampin Up Convention 2010 with us on July 21-24, 2010 at Salt Lake City, Utah!

OUR LNS events start on Monday July 19th and end on Saturday July 24th with Patsy's WOW event after convention is over.

$180 gives you the "I want it all package" or you can pick from the events below

Send your payment to istmpnv@aol.com using pay pal or mail a check to:

Sherrill Graff
605 Kendrick Place
Boulder City NV 89005

if you are sending a check e-mail me and let me know so I can hold your spot.

Monday July 19th will be a 8:30 AM stamp camp 8 great projects $90 FULL
we supply everything except adhesive
Monday Stamp Camp projects are the same on both days

Monday 2 PM shoe box swap $35 OPEN
please bring a project to share with 6 people and a finished project to enter into the contest

Monday Night 7 PM WOW event by Tami $10 OPEN we need 3 more wow demonstrators to show their stuff. please e-mail istmpnv@aol.com ASAP
bring your camera and a note pad
the WOW demonstrations are different on both days.
all at the Radisson

Tuesday July 20th will be a 8:30 AM stamp camp 8 great projects $90 OPEN

followed by a Tuesday 2 PM shoe box swap $35 FULL
please bring a project to share with 6 people and a finished project to enter into the contest

then the Tuesday Night 7 PM Reunion party 3 fun projects$35 FULL
we supply everything except adhesive all at the Radisson

Wednesday July 21 Anything New Swap 75+1 at the Radisson behind Convention on sign in day

Wednesday Sign In Day 2pm-4pm Shoe Box Swap Hosted by Mary and Brenda $35 OPEN
please bring a project to share with 6 people and a finished project to enter into the contest
at the Radisson

then a Saturday July 24th 6 PM WOW event by Patsy $10 OPEN
bring your camera and a note pad
at the Radisson
the WOW demonstrations are different on both days.

All events have prizes and give-a-ways.
May God bless you and your family,
Sherrill Graff istmpnv@aol.com


Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #84 - Fancy Folding!!

Hello all!! Finally, I am able to post this! Tried the other day at the hotel and the Internet was not cooperating with me!! And then I spent a day traveling and such and before I know it, it's Thursday!!!

I had a past wonderful weekend of stamping, playing and re-connecting to old friends. I even met some new friends who I have chatted with on-line and through my stamping groups.

I was in Harrisburg, PA at the second retreat put on by my upline Janet Wakeland. She is one amazing woman, I tell you!! We had awesome Make & Takes each day, access to all of the stamps in the catalog, all the Big Shot dies and accessories and so much more I can even remember!!!!

As the week goes on I will show you what the M&T's were and what I was able to create while there. I went with no plan for really completing anything and that was great.

On to this week's GCA! For the most part, when we make a card the fold is a simple one. Either on the side or the top. But, how do you think about, or have time for, a fancy fold? I know that I seldom think about it, but I certainly do like the look when I do use a fancy fold.

The card I made for this week is called a Spring fold card. You can find the tutorial for this card by clicking on the link. Very easy and fun to do. Which I will post the pic when I get home later today. I thought I had already uploaded it!!

For my base card I used a sheet of the Shades of Spring dsp which is in the current mini. When making this card you definitely want to chose what type of pattern is on your dsp, as to not overwhelm your image.

Once I had the Kraft scallop trim on, I realized this made the card front a little heavier than I wanted and so it doesn't "spring" quite like it should, but I do like the effect of the frame. In the tutorial it states to use adhesive to hold down the bottom point, however I used a piece of Sor-tape, just to be sure it would stay.

The main image was decorated with various punches and die cuts, as I had limited supplies with me and I wasn't quite sure where I was going with this!!

I used the 2 step bird and Large Fancy Flower punches, in the current mini, for the main pieces. The smaller flowers were punched with the Trio flower punch from Razzleberry Lemonade dsp. The bird was punched twice, in Whisper White and popped up with dimensionals as was the wing. For the eye and center of the large flower I used the rhinestones from the Eggcellent Easter Egg kit, which is now sold out. I soooo hope we have something like this in the new catty!

I distressed my Certainly Celery piece around the edges and pierced the scallops on my frame. Pretty easy to do! I hope you have time to try a "Fancy Fold"!!!

So, this week your creations need to incorporate some type of fancy folding. You can make a gate fold card, tri-shutter or flip-flap card for starters.

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 17, 2010 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 GCA84 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 #83 Winner is....

....Jill!!! You can see her wonderful creation on her blog A Life Well Crafted.

Again, I am sooo appreciative of everyone who stopped by, left a comment or played along. This is what I love about this wonderful community of stampers and crafters.

Up Next: GCA #84 - Fancy Folding!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #83 - Flowers with Pink & Brown!!

Hello all!!! I have to say that I am very impressed with those stampers who made creations for this week, even without my sample or general directions!! Way to go! And, since I have been slacking horribly, this week I am extending GCA #83 through next Sunday, 4-11-10. And yes, you may enter as many times as you like.

For this GCA we are using the colors of Pink & Brown, my fave color combo, with the addition of adding flowers to your creation.

My sample for this challenge is the name tag I made for the SCS 2010 Michigan Mingle. We have a name tag challenge, among other fun challenges, and this was mine. I even won the contest! How cool is that??? I received a $15 Archivers gift card, which is already gone!!

When I put this together I really didn't have a specific idea and I was putting things together to take with me last week while I was gone.

The scalloped circle is cut from chipboard, using my Big Shot. Boy, that tool can cut through anything!!! I covered it with the Pretty in Pink dsp from the Sending Love speciality dsp in the Occasions mini. Hard to see in the photo, but this dsp has glitter already on it.

The second layer was cut from the Top Note die, from chipboard, creating a medallion from the Top Note. The dsp I used on here is Pink Pirouette and Sweet Always dsp. The Pretty in Pink strip was in my scraps and I already had embossed it with the Sweet Details texture plate.

I cut my name using the Timeless Type alpha and my Big Shot. You can do so many wonderful things with this gadget. If you don't have one yet, I urge you get one. This layer is popped up with many dimensionals!!!! Didn't want it to fall off.

My ribbon flower was made using Regal Rose gg. I stitched along one edge with linen thread and then pulled it into a circle shape when I finished. After that I just played with it to get the look I wanted. The center is 3/4" circle punched from the same dsp I used on the scallop circle and then a Chocolate Chip epoxy brad in the center. This is popped up on a thicker pop dot. Actually, this flower is really where the idea for the whole name tag started from. I cut leaves with my Little Leaves sizzlet from Kiwi Kiss.

The ruffled ribbon behind the scallop circle circle is made the same way as my small ribbon flower, but I used the 1 1/4" Pink Pirouette gg and the double stitched Chocolate Chip. Once I had the look I was going for, I adhered it to the back with sticky tape. A length of the Chocolate Chip polytwill served as my lanyard.

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 11, 2010 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 GCA83 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~~~