GCA #122 - Anything Goes - Valentine Style!!!

Hello all!!!  No I didn't forget to post the challenge today!!  We had a very beautiful, sun filled day here in Michigan and I actually got out of my apartment to enjoy it!!  Not many days like this happen in the winter here.  But, I hear that we have a major storm coming.  Yuck!!!

Well, Valentine's Day is just around the corner!  Anyone want to tell me where the month of January went???  WOW, it was here and now it's almost gone!

To help you get those last minute Valentine cards and projects completed, this week is all about Valentine's Day!  Whatever you want to do, it just has to be Valentine related!

Now, you may recognize the colors and layout on my card.  I had leftovers from the swap I did with this card and decided to use them up!  I did trim the overall card size so I could place it on a base card of Melon Mambo.  The hearts were punched using the Full Heart punch and the Love Impressions dsp, in the Occasions mini. 

The cute button is part of the SAB button/ribbon pack and I placed a large rhinestone in the middle!  And to finish it off, I used the Melon Mambo pom-pom trim.  Isn't it adorable??  This is available in the Occasions mini also.  The hearts are popped up with dimensionals, as is the panel they are on.

Upload your creation to either your blog or to an online gallery and post a link to your creation to this blog entry by February 5, 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 GCA122 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 #121 Winner is.....

.... Kelly from Kelly's Kreative Korner!!!  Check out her adorable Valentine made for her hubby!!  Kelly please email me your address to amf1066@comcast.net and I will get you a stampin goodie package!

Thanks to all who stopped by, played or left comments!

Up Next:  GCA #122 - Anything Goes - Valentine Style!!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Hello Baby - DIC132!!!!!

Hello ladies!!!  Another week has flown by and here we are at the UDI Blog Inspiration challenge!!!  This week Maria gave us a very bright, cheery, pink infused bouquet of daises along with pink marshmallow bunnies!!!

My card doesn't have any bunnies, but it does have pinks and rubber duckies!  I used the new SAB set, Punch Bunch, to make a sweet baby card.  And, for me, this is pretty simple too!!!

I'll give you all the details tonight!  Off to work now!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #121 - Not Your Usual Valentine Image!!!

Hello all!!!  I see the unusual Valentine colors kept some of you away, but I hope you can find that unusual Valentine image to play along this week!!  I just love using things that not necessarily meant for that particular holiday on my cards or projects.

For this week, I want you to look through your stamps/images and see what you have that you can use on a Valentine card.  Do you need to make a masculine Valentine?  How about a motorcycle, truck or skateboard and use the traditional Valentine colors.  What about using any of those cute monster stamps out there to make kids Valentines?

Of course, there is one catch!!!  You must use non-traditional images as your focal point.  This focal point cannot be a Valentine themed image.   You may use hearts on your card, but only from punches, die cuts or whatever.  No stamped hearts!!  And, you may use any colors you wish to create your projects.  (not shouting, just making sure this is seen!)

Well, now that the end of the week is here, here is my sample!!!   This was one crazy week, I tell you!  Anyway, on to the card! 

I wanted to make a "manly" Valentine card for my supervisor (without being mushy!) and so I pulled out Uncharted Territory.  Both of the images are water colored, using my stamp pads and aquapainter.  I used Whisper White, only because I have no watercolor paper, and you can tell it warped the card stock.  Oh well, it lends to the overall wavy, lake feel!

My layout came from the November 2010 CardMaker sketch #20.  I did alter it a bit by putting the embossed strip under the panels and not over the larger one.  The colors I used are Poppy Parade, Not Quite Navy, Sahara Sand, Whisper White and Poppy Parade dsp.
Upload your creation to either your blog or to an online gallery and post a link to your creation to this blog entry by January 29, 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 GCA121 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 #120 Winner is.....

...... Sandie from The Crafty Side of Me.  Check out her adorable Valentine gift tag with non-traditional colors.  Sandie please email me your address to amf1066@comcast.net and I will get a stampin goodie package out to you.

Thanks to all who stopped by this past week!!

I believe there are two of you waiting for packages from me.  They are absolutely going into the mail tomorrow!!!  My mother's husband passed away last week and I've been busy with her taking care of all the arrangements.

Up Next:  GCA #121 - Not Your Usual Valentine Image!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

More CPC projects to LOVE & Keep you WARM!!!

Hello all!!!  Here's another cute project that is featured on Craft Project Central!!!  Isn't it adorable??  Head over there to check it out!

The kids will love this alternative to a Valentine box. This cute box is created to look like a little mailbox. Best of all their Valentines can be dropped in the box through the top and when they get home to read all their Valentines, it will be easy to open with the front flap!

This cute little project designed by Tammy, is the January Bonus project over at Craft Project Central! To get the instructions for this great project, just head on over to www.craftprojectcentral.com, subscribe to two or more months in a row, put the CPC badge on your blog, or refer a friend and when they subscribe, let them know!

Here's a twist on traditional hot chocolate; this recipe uses white chocolate! This yummy drink will keep you warm on the inside when the snowflakes are falling outside!

To get the instructions for this recipe page to add to your Craft Project Central recipe collection, just head on over to www.craftprojectcentral.com and subscribe to Janaury! Don't forget to make a batch of this yummy hot chocolate to drink while you're stamping!!





Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Pure Bliss - DIC131!

Hello all!!!  Another Thursday has arrived and so has another UDI Blog Inspiration challenge!!!  And as the title states, the inspiration piece evokes the feeling of pure bliss!  At least for me!!!

So, I have a card for you that I actually made for a recent swap.  This uses the new, Sale-A-Bration set, Bliss.  This will become available to earn for free on January 25th!!!  Remember, with every $50 you spend, you earn one SAB set.  Do you have your wish list ready?

All of the stamps on here are in this set, plus one more.  I just love the damask stamp, which I used on here as a background image.  It was stamped in Pink Pirouette on Pink Pirouette.

The dsp is the new Springtime Vintage and it is fabulous!!!  So is the fabric that matches it!!!  I took my colors from the dsp:  Rose Red, Very Vanilla, Pear Pizzazz and Always Artichoke.

A small basic pearl gives the touch of "oldness" and the bird in the Pear Pizzazz gives it that right amount of pop!!!

Check out the UDI Blog and the inspiration piece.  Why not play along if you can??

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Have you heard about Craft Project Central????

Hello all!!  Have you heard of this all Stampin' Up! site?  I have been asked to be a guest designer for the month of January and couldn't be more excited!!!  I've come up with two fabulous projects for the site and I hope you'll pop over there to check it out!

It is loaded with tons of cute, quick, easy and fast to make projects.  Craft Project Central is awesome for coming up with those quick gifts to make for Valentine's Day!!!  Check it out!  Until my project is posted is here a taste of what you can find over there:

This cute project gives you some snow family punch art to add to your Craft Project Central punch art collection and also shows you how to pop-up the snow family up in this pretty wintery card!

To get the instructions for this project designed by Lynn, just head on over to http://www.craftprojectcentral.com/ and subscribe to January 2011!

I'll be posting more pictures during the week to wet your appetite!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #120 - Not Your Usual Valentine Colors!!

Hello all!!  I apologize for the delay in my posting today.  The day did not turn out quite like I had hoped!

Are you getting ready for the "Holiday of Love"??  Seems like Christmas just finished and we are thrown into another holiday!!  Valentine's Day always brings out the best chocolate, among other things!!

This week we are focusing on unusual Valentine colors.  What kind of Valentine/Love type of creation can you come up with using no reds or pinks!  Think outside the box with blues, oranges or yellows.  Even brown can make a Valentine paired with the right colors!!

In keeping with my unusual colors for this week, I went with Marina Mist, River Rock and Whisper White.  I recently participated in several swaps and the color combo came from one of them.  I also used parts of a sketch from another one for my layout on my card.

I used the Presto Patterns dsp inked with River Rock for the vertical panel.  I must use that dsp more, because I forget how you can really customize your card with it.  The scallop circle is River Rock, run through with the Perfect Polka Dots ef and spritzed with the Vanilla Shimmer smooch spritz.

The heart is punched from a non-SU! piece of embossed card stock.  It is a glossy front and embossed with butterflies.  I inked it up with Marina Mist.

Upload your creation to either your blog or to an online gallery and post a link to your creation to this blog entry by January 22, 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 GCA120 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 #119 Winner is.....

..... Vix from Vixykins!!!  Check out her blog and see the fabulous card she made!!  Vix please send me your address to amf1066@comcast.net and I will get a stampin' goodie package out to you! 

I have 3 stampin' goodie packages going out this week!!  You know who you are that is expecting one!!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by, played along and/or left comments!!  Stampers are the best!

Up Next:  GCA #120 - Not Your Usual Valentine Colors!!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

A Nature Walk with You - DIC130

Hello all!!!  Here we are at another Thursday and time for the UDI Inspiration challenge!  This week Maria has given us an adorable birdhouse and birds to pull out our creativity!

I originally started this card for a swap and then changed my mind.  But is works perfectly for this week's challenge!

The card base is white and top folded.  Since I started this a swap, the original card base was Tangerine Tango, but I trimmed that to put it onto the white base.  The dry embossed layer is also Tangerine Tango, with the Square Lattice ef.

The stamp set used on here is the new Nature Walk that is now available in the Occasions Mini!!!  Love this set with the vintage, nostalgic feel to it.  There is also coordinating dsp too!  I used a small piece of it here, the muted olive color.

The bird is stamped in Choc Chip and the bird cage is in Tangerine Tango.  Both are cut out and popped up with dimensionals.  The sentiment tab is half of the decorative label punch and the stamp is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

Enjoy!!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #119 - Got Hearts???

Hello all!!!  I hope this finds all of you warm and cozy, in the north and dry in the south!  Crazy weather happening lately!!

Here's how we can heat things up!  The GCA this week is to incorporate HEARTS, somewhere in your creation.  Your creation does not have to be Valentine related, just include hearts on it.  You could make a birthday, wedding or anniversary card.  Just be sure you have hearts on it somewhere!

WOW!!!  You guys are so very observant, thank you!!!  Trying to do too many things at the same time yesterday!!!  The corrected date and challenge # is now up.  Here's my sample!  Will give you all the deets tonight!  Off to work!
Upload your creation to either your blog or to an online gallery and post a link to your creation to this blog entry by January 15, 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 GCA119 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 #118 Winner is....

..... Naush from Doodle Buddies!!!  Check out her blog to see her darling card!!  Naush please send me your address to amf1066@comcast.net and I will get a stampin' goodie package out to you!!

Thanks to all who stopped by, left comments, played along or just just stopped by for a look!!!  You are always welcome at the Nook!!

Up Next:  GCA #119 - Got Hearts???

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #118 - Happy NEW Year to You!!!

Happy New Year everyone!!!  I pray all of you had a safe and fabulous New Year's Eve and Day!!!  I stayed nice and cozy in my apartment, working on some swaps I need to get out!!

Now that Christmas is behind us and the New Year has started, this week we are going to focus on NEW things!!!  What did you get for Christmas, either from loved ones or stuff you bought yourself????  Anything that is NEW to you, I want you to use it on your creations this week!!

The week of Christmas I received my Occasions/SAB pre-order.  One of the sets I ordered is from the main IB & C, but one I've wanted since the catty came out: Grunge Rock!  Not exactly sure why I like this set, but since I seem to be into more vintage/collage/distressed looks lately I think that's why I like it!

Anyway, I finally inked it up yesterday and new it would be the perfect choice for this week's GCA!!  And, I used every stamp in the set on this card!!!  That doesn't happen very often!  I also made this for the FS204 on SCS : WhiteRockMama AKA Marisa!  I liked the layout she used on her card and the colors.  The colors came from the Curtain Call Color Challenge. 

My changes are:
* Stamp set
* Colors - While I kept the Certainly Celery, I did use the original Melon Mambo and Pink Pirouette from the challenge
* The layout is basically the same, yet I tweaked my sentiment panel and didn't notch the ends.
* Left off the button and used a clip/ribbon combo
* Used rhinestones instead of dew drops

I also used my Distressing Essentials kit - Tea Stain - around the sentiment tag and the main image panel.  The sentiment tag was also distressed with my distressor tool.

Love how this turned out!!!  And I know who it will go to!!  One of my close girlfriends has a birthday in April and this is perfect for her!!  Nothing like being prepared, right??

Upload your creation to either your blog or to an online gallery and post a link to your creation to this blog entry by January 8, 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 GCA118 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 #117 Winner is....

.... Barbara from Forgotten Scraps!!!  Check out her fabulous card on her blog and how she used sparkly items not necessarily intended for cardmaking!!!  Barbara please email me your address to amf1066@comcast.net and I will get a stampin' goodie package out to you!

Thanks to all for stopping by again and playing along!!!  I always look forward to see who is going to stop by and play along.

Up Next:  GCA #118 - Happy NEW Year to You!!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~