GCA #126 - Bring on the Colors!

Hello all!!  Are you tired of the cold, dreary days?  Snow, snow and more snow???  If you live any of the areas of the world where it's gray and dreary most of the time, then you are anxiously awaiting Spring like I am!!

This week we are going to help Spring along!!  Get out those bright colors, or any colors, and make your creations!!  Any theme, any style just use color!! Color must be the majority of your card.  Use the neutrals lightly.  Help infuse the world with some color!!!

I actually made this card last week, hoping for Spring.  I used the color combo from the RubberRedNeck color round-up:  #23 - Poppy Parade, Crumb Cake and Early Espresso.  A fun color combo.  My neutral is Very Vanilla.  I used two of the SAB set: Punch Bunch and So Happy For You.  I just love that owl!!

I also used the diamond stamp from Grunge Rock on the Very Vanilla strip, off-stamped in Crumb Cake.  It's hard to see, but it's there.  I also stamped it on the Crumb Cake crimped/Faux Suede panel.  Two Very Vanilla brads and one In-Color Poppy glimmer brad finishes it off!

The layout is from the Clean and Simple blog FTL #128.  Not sure how clean and simple I kept this card, but I was intrigued with the layout.  The goal was to get out your die cuts and use them!  No problem here!!  LOL!!  I used the Top Note die in Early Espresso and then just trimmed the edges to the width I wanted.  The trickier part was trimming the Very Vanilla layer!  The owl was punched from Early Espresso and layered with a chest plate of Very Vanilla stamped in Poppy Parade.  The leaves were cut with my Big Shot and then I spritzed them with my Early Espresso marker to make them stand out more.

The inside was kept pretty simple by stamping the diamond stamp in Crumb Cake along the edge and using an owl from my stash.  And more leaves!

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 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 GCA126 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 #125 Winner is....

.....Donna from Designs by Me Me!!!!  She created an adorable teddy bear card.  Thanks Donna for playing along this week.  Please send me your address to amf1066@comcast.net and I will get you a stampin goodie package!!!

Thanks to all who stopped by, played along and left comments.  I so appreciate it!

Up Next:  GCA #126 - Bring on the Colors!!!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

More Craft Project Central projects!!! Have you checked them out yet???

Tammy created this handy project and says "If you’re like me you have your go-to tools that you use frequently to create your cards and projects. I’ve created a Stamper’s Toolbox that sits on my desk and is at arm’s length. This holds things like SNAIL adhesive, Sticky Strip, Bone Folder, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink and handmade journal tags. I love creating journal tags and having them close at hand for those quick notes."

Chinese New Year is celebrated every February.  Here is a simple favor box decorated with a really cool Chinese Lion (made completely with Stampin' Up! punches) punch art piece to help you celebrate!

This unique punch art and favor box was designed by Jill.
To get the instructions for these  projects, just head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to February!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

It's a Celebration - Vintage Style GCA 125!!

Hello all!!!  Since today is President's Day I have the day off and therefore I can create to my heart's desire!!  And do some laundry in between!! 

Here's another birthday card for the challenge this week.  An eclectic/vintage/collage style that I love to do!

The card base is Cherry Cobbler.  The scallops were cut with the Big Shot and Tasteful Trim die.  This is still available for purchase!  Two cut in black and one from the Newsprint dsp.  The back strips were embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots folder.

You can't see it clearly in the picture, but I used the Extreme Elements set to stamp a background.  I stamped the large "splot" in Cherry Cobbler, the feather swish in Black staz on and the Fleur-Di-Lis in Versamark.  The crown was stamped in Cherry Cobbler and versamark and then clear embossed.

The other Eiffel Tower is from the Artistic Etchings set.  Not sure who makes the "face" stamp, but I thought it went very well with the collage.  The leaf is from Martha Stewart and punched in Kiwi Kiss for a pop of another color.

And to add some bling I put a rhinestone on the sentiment tab.  A mini library clip with Very Vanilla 1/8" tafetta finishes it off.  All the images are popped up with dimensionals.

Hope to have you play along this week!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Birthday Wishes - Western Style GCA 125

Hello all!!!  So sewing was not that popular last week!  This week we'll try something fun and easy!  Birthday cards!  That's it.  All you need to do is make a birthday card.  It can be for a man, woman or child and whatever colors/theme you like.  It just needs to reference "Birthday" somewhere on the front.

My card this week is for three challenges.  Mine and the Late Night Stampers Yahoo group I belong to.  The challenge for LNS was to make a masculine card.  I think this is masculine!  I also used the Monday Lunchtime Sketch challenge on the Technostamper Blog by Mary Jo.

The card base is Marina Mist, layered with Soft Suede and Crumb Cake.  Very Vanilla is my neutral. 

It's hard to see on here, but on the Crumb Cake piece I did the Faux Suede technique.  I also stamped the hat and boot on there in Crumb Cake and spritzed with Soft Suede.  On the Soft Suede panel I stamped the horseshoe and steer head, but they are pretty much covered up on here.

The thing I like the most is the "stitching" on the scallop square piece.  That was done with linen thread, needle and free hand!  I like the rugged look it gives here.  The Soft Suede square was distressed with my distressor tool and then layered with a piece of the Crumb Cake Faux Suede.

The cowboy, from the Out West set, was first stamped on Very Vanilla in Brown ink.  Then he was "cut out" using the Out-of-the-Box technique.  I just love doing this technique with this image.  Once I had him cut to where I wanted, I colored him with my aquapainter, stamp lid inks and markers.  The main image/Crumb Cake piece is up on dimensionals as is the entire scallop square.

My birthday sentiment is from the SAB set, So Happy For You, stamped in Marina Mist.  I tried the curly/pennant tag on here.  Need some more work on that!

On the inside I stamped the boot in Soft Suede, steer head in Crumb Cake and the hat in Night of Navy on Marina Mist.  The hat is popped up.  The sentiment is non-SU!

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 26, 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 GCA125 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 #124 Winner is.....

.... Mandy from Made by Mandy.  A wonderful gift to give to her darling DH!  Many I will get your goodies out to you soon.

Ok, so sewing may not be your passion, or scares you off a little bit.  It does me!  Well this week the challenge is very easy, and very open, for you.

Up Next:  GCA #125 - It's A Celebration!!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

My Tall Treat Box on Craft Project Central!!!



Hello all!!!  My project as a February guest designer for Craft Project Central, is now posted!!!  And, it's the February Bonus project!!!  Hop on over there and subscribe and refer your friends!  All of the projects on this site are SUO and fabulous!!!!

This tall treat box can be used to give many different types of gifts to your friends and family! With the clear window front it will give the recipient a sneak peek of what’s inside! Change up the theme and use it to give gifts for any holiday! Makes a great club or class project!
To get the instructions for this great project, just subscribe to two or more months in a row, put our badge on your blog, or refer a friend and when they subscribe, let us know!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Birthday Wishes - DIC135

Hello all!!!   Another Thursday means another UDI Inspiration Challenge!!!

This is one of the cards we made at club this month and fits perfectly with the challenge!!!  I was recently in a birthday card swap and received a card like this.   I made some changes, of course, to make it my own, but it was the layout with the circles that caught my attention.

The card base is Peach Parfait, layered with Whisper White.  Only the bottom portion was put through the Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dots folder.  The new, and fabulous, cupcake punch was used to create the cupcake.  The bottom was punched in Early Espresso after being embossed with the Square Lattice folder.  The topping was punched from the SAB dsp - Ice Cream Parlor.  And the cherry on top is punched with the new red glitter paper.  I think the cherry really does top off this cupcake!!  LOL!

Each of the circles are punched using the 1 1/4" circle punch, adhered together in a triangular shape and then put on the card using dimensionals.  The cupcake is then put on top of the circles with more dimensionals!  You know how much I love my dimensionals!!!

The ribbon and buttons are from the SAB Ice Cream Parlor buttons and ribbon pack.  The ribbon was placed just at the top of the embossed area.  Using another SAB set - So Happy For You - I stamped the birthday wishes in Peach Parfait.  Two of the buttons, topped with rhinestones, finish off the card.  Pretty easy and clean and simple for me!!

If you have a minute, check out the UDI Blog and play along!!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Happy Valentine's Day to YOU!!!!

Hello all!!!  Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!  Hope it was a great day and ate lots of chocolate!!

Here's my Valentine to you.  I was playing around with a new set, Clearly for You, and this is what I came up with.  Some of the parts and pieces were leftovers from other projects.

I've also been playing around with the new style out I'll call Eclectic Vintage, and I really like how it turned out.  Really with this style there is no right or wrong.  Using a variety of the smaller stamps in the Clearly for You set, I stamped them on the DSP from Springtime Vintage.  1 1/2 lattice dies were used to layer over the top.

The rest is bits and pieces, a daisy cut from the cork, scrunched Very Vanilla seam binding, the bird is from the Hostess Level 1 set, Punch Potpourri and an antique brad.  For me, what really finishes this card off, is the little crown stamped in Cherry Cobbler and popped on top of the birds head!  Is that not cute or what???  Of course, every crown needs some bling so I put one of the rhinestones on there.

I had fun making this card and isn't that what it's all about?

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~~Ann~~~~

GCA #124 - Oh Sew Sweet!!!

Hello all!!!  In my neck of the woods in Michigan we are having a brilliantly beautiful and warm day for February!!!  Maybe spring is really on the way??

Seems like everywhere you look right now, some type of sewing is showing up in stamping.  SU! has a new suite, Oh Sew Suite, in the Occasions mini.  Now, I don't sew, but I have to say I love the new fabric SU! is carrying and the dsp in this mini.  The sewing stamps are adorable, but not for me.  That doesn't mean that I can't still be part of the sewing craze with other products!!

So, for this week, you need to incorporate some type of sewing reference on your creation.  Whether you use dsp, fabric or actual sewing stamps, just show us your love of sewing!

My card is actually one we are making for stamp club today.  The dsp, Sweet Stitches, is a delightful and fun pack to play with.  At first I thought some of the patterns, and colors, were a little too bold for me, but if you break them down into smaller pieces, they work!

I used Wild Wasabi for my card base and layered with So Saffron and Tangerine Tango.  The sewing machine side of the dsp was cut into strips and then layered over the lighter Wasabi pattern piece layer.  This is also our technique card for this month:  Inlaid Embossing and Sanded DSP.  The dsp layers were put through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Embossing folder and then the sewing machine strip was lightly sanded over to remove some of the colors.

Not much stamping on this card, as I wanted the dsp to show off.  I really like the piece of lighter Tangerine with the dress pattern girl and wanted that as more of my main image.  The sentiment was stamped in black staz on, from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I ran a piece of the cork sheets using the Daisy die, for the embellishment.  The button is from the new pack in the Occasions mini, Sweet Stitches.  A piece of Daffodil Delight 1/8" taffeta is tied through it.  Leaves punched from the bird punch finish it off.

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 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 GCA124 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 #123 Winner is....

..... Tammylee from Tammylee's Stamp Corner!!!  The Packers may not have real cheerleaders, but Tammylee made sure they had stamped ones!!  Tammylee please email me at amf1066@comcast.net with your address and I will get a stampin' goodie package out to you!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by, played along or left comments.  I have to say the green and yellow must have been very heavy in the air last week as the black yellow colors received no love!!

Up Next:  GCA #124 - Oh Sew Sweet!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

More Awesome Projects Posted at Craft Project Central!!!

Here's a cute little accordion card box to store your cards in.  Make several and give them away as gifts!  This project makes a great class or club project as well! 
To get the instructions for this great project designed by Sonya, just head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to February!

Here is a handy little Petal Cone scissor pouch for your stamping room.  Keep your Paper Snips inside, and (hopefully) you'll never lose them!  Makes a fabulous gift for a quilter, hostess, or any crafter! 

To get the instructions for this pretty project designed by Sharon, just head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to February 2011!

This yummy dessert recipe is the perfect end to a romantic Valentine's dinner. Oh what the heck, the kids will love it too! Make it for everyone! Add this "lovely" recipe to your Craft Project Central recipe collection! I know several of you made all the recipe pages from last year and made books to give away as Christmas gifts!


To get the recipe (designed by Shelbywww.craftprojectcentral.com and subscribe to February!

Here's a cute little gift card holder to make and give to that someone special! Change up the theme and you can use the template year-round!


To get the instructions for this cute little gift card holder designed by Naoko, just head on over to Craft Project Central, and subscribe to February!



Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

A Wise Valentine Owl - DIC134

Hello all!!!  The UDI Blog Inspiration challenge this week is a fun and flirty pic in reds and pinks.  Just in time for Valentine's Day!!  Are you ready?

I have to confess actually.  The basic components of this card were sitting on my craft table, leftovers from a previous class.  A Christmas class to be exact, but I thought it would make for a nice Valentine card.  I think it turned out just fine!

The card base Blushing Bride, layered with Real Red, CandyCane dsp and striped Shimmery White.  Some of these items are retired, but just goes to show how some dsp can be used for other holidays too!  The big button is from the 2010 Holiday mini and I soooo hope they show up in the new catalog this year!!

As I'm still lovin' this owl punch and stamp set, I had to use him!  The owl is from the SAB set Punch Bunch and punched with the 2 step owl punch.  So much fun.  The owls "chest cover" was stamped separately in Real Red on Whisper White.  The small heart is in Blushing Bride, popped up with a tiny dimensional and topped off with a rhinestone.  The pinking hearts border punch was used on the back of the card base.  A 1/4" is cut off the front so it shows through.

If you have a chance, check out the UDI Blog and play along!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #123 - Go Stackers!!!

Hello all!!!  Whether you are a fan of football or not, everyone knows that today is Super Bowl day!!!  And the teams playing today are the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers.  What has that got to do with this week's GCA?  Well, I am not a football fan, but I know there are many stampers out there who are. 

So, this week we are going to incorporate the colors of the two Super Bowl teams into our creations!!  It doesn't matter if you are a fan of one team or the other, or of neither, but just use their colors to create your project.

The Pittsburgh Steelers colors are: Black and Yellow. 

The Green Bay Packers colors are Green and Yellow.

Use either color combo on your creation for this week.  You can add any other colors as you'd like, but you must have at least the two primary colors on your creation.

The owl is from the SAB Punch Bunch set.  I kept the design simple as I will use these for male V-Day cards for my male co-workers.  I used the colors of Whisper White, Garden Green, Daffodil Delight and Basic Black.  DSP I used is Woodland Walk and Sweet Pea (retired) pack.  The trim accents are from the Playdate accents.

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 12, 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 GCA123 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 122 Winner is....

.... Elaine from Craft My Life.  Take a moment to check out her totally sweet and adorable Valentine!  Elaine 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, played or left comments!!  I so love seeing you come by.

Up Next:  GCA #123 - Go Stackers!!!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Colorful and Funky Birthday Mushrooms - DIC133!!!

Hello all!!!  Another Thursday is here and that means another fabulous UDI Blog Inspiration challenge!!!  This week Maria has provided us with a fantastic picture of glass-blown mushrooms.

So it was a no-brainer to dig out my Funky Four set and go with it.  The sketch is SC317 on SCS.  I had not intended on using the tree, but once I started working on this I know that I needed something for the background to help "ground" the mushrooms.  Clear as mud?  The tree was colored with my Garden Green and Choc Chip markers.

The mushrooms were stamped in Concord Crush, Daffodil Delight and Tangerine Tango.  The large ones are popped up with one dimensional and the smaller ones use two.  Even more dimension is used on all the panels.  The Garden Green has one layer and the Choc Chip layer has two.  The sentiment, from the fabulous SAB set So Happy For You, is stamped in Choc Chip, placed on a Garden Green strip and popped up with dimensionals.  Just for some texture I distressed the edges with my cutter tool.

A brass mini library clip and three brass brads finishes it off.  Not sure how much you can see in the pic, but I was off center with my brad placement and so I covered those up with 1/4" circles under the brads.  I think this will make a fabulous manly birthday card.  The dsp I used on here is the Woodland Walk.  Took me forever to order this!  Not quite sure why!!

Hop on over to the UDI Blog and play along with us!!!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

True Love - GCA 122!!!!

Hello all!!  Well, here in my area of Michigan we had a SNOW DAY!!!!  While I don't think we got as much snow as they predicted, enough came to cripple the area for a day!  So, I played in my craft room, took a nap and did a little laundry.

I did not make this card today, but I want to show it to you all before I give it to my co-worker.  I made this for her to give to her boyfriend for Valentine's Day.  I can't get her to try stamping, but she wants me to make her lots of things!!!  I don't mind though.

This card was made following one of the Verve sketches on SCS.  The finished size is 3 1/2 x 7 and will fit into one of the long open-ended envelopes, now retired.  The card base is Going Gray textured with Love Impressions dsp.  The dsp is on a layer of Whisper White and sponged with Going Gray and Pink Pirouette. 

The birds, from Love You Much, were stamped in Basic Gray and the heart was colored with the Real Red marker.  Punched them out with the Decorative Label punch and sponged with the same colors.  The layer behind the birds is two of the Decorative Labels cut and layered to create a larger label.  A strip of 1 1/4" Pink Pirouette gg layered with Pretty in Pink satin was scrunched up and the main image placed over it.  I used the Heart Trio punch with the Red glitter dsp.  This one is the middle one and I put the other two inside.

I know she'll like it, but I hope it isn't too much pink for him!!!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Nature Walk Desk Caddy - CPC Project

Here's a beautiful little Nature Walk desk caddy designed by Tammy! Make and keep on your desk and you'll always have a scrap piece of paper and pen when you need one! No more digging through the piles (okay, now you know what my desk looks like)!! This would make a great teacher or co-worker gift too! Also, easy enough to do as a club or class project!


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

Hope you can check the Craft Project site.  They have a ton of wonderful projects to make!!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~