Crazy Happy Birthday!!

Hello all!!! Since today is my birthday, I thought I would show you a birthday card I made back in 2007!!! I don't think I have posted this on my blog, but it bears a repeat if I have!

This card was for IC80 and if I remember right it was a site of crazy cakes!

I love how this turned how though! Except with the ribbon and the oval overlay you can't see the middle panel.

I took Pink Passion, Regal Rose and Pretty in Pink and swirled the ink on dtp style. I made my stars by just drawing a star on the card stock and then cutting them out. Harder than thought because they were so small!

This was even before the scallop edge punch when I used my slit punch to make scalloped borders!! I hope you enjoy!

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 - 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~~~

Thanks in Mambo is Heavenly!

Hello all!! Here is my card I created for this week's IC on SCS!! Stef found us another great site for the IC this week!! She chose the site Heavenly Hostess, which is filled with tons of gorgeous aprons, kitchen towels and headbands. However, I'm not sure if the person wearing these aprons is the one really doing the cooking!!!

My inspiration came from this apron here:

http://www.heavenlyhostess.com/aprons_lauren.html

I was instantly drawn to the colors, flowers and the contrasting prints on the tie. I tried to recreate that by using a piece of Razzleberry Lemonade, in Melon Mambo, with the small flowers, and then layered two strips of Pretty in Pink I had run through the newest texture plates: Perfect Details. I then took my Melon Mambo marker (love it!) and put a small dot on all the embossed dots. My bird, from Fun and Fast Notes, is paper pieced with Afternoon Tea dsp and the Razzleberry/Mambo. I used a Fleurette that I dyed with my PIP re inker, a 1/2: circle of Melon Mambo text and a clear rhinestone brad from my Pretties Kit.

The white taffeta ribbon is for the ribbon tie and the silver library clip is just because! I should have moved things up just a titch, because the upper right corner seemed bare - hence the library clip!

And how goofy am I? I haven't used this set in forever, and actually thought it had retired until I saw it in this years new catalog!! How how easily we forget what we have!!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

A Note for You!

Hello all!! I hope everyone is having a fabulous week and that spring has finally come to your area! Here in Jackson, MI, we are finally having warm, sunny days, birds are out and the flowers are blooming!! I love spring!!

My card for you today is one I made for the Inspiration challenge on SCS (IC176).

This IC is from a site called SKEEM - and it has a variety of eclectic candles and perfumes, all with amazing inspirations to get your mojo flowing!!I chose this pillar here: http://www.skeemshop.com/SkeemShop/p...illa%20Tobacco

The colors and simplicity of the design are what pulled me in. As I find it difficult to do "simple" cards, I wanted to take another stab at it! So for me, this is a simple card! My card base is PTI's white, along with SU!'s brushed silver, creamy caramel and black. Until I put these colors together, or saw them in the candle!!, I would never have thought they looked this good!

Let me know what you think!!! I love reading your comments!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #29 - You've Been Framed!

Hello all!!! I hope everyone who desired it, had a wonderful Valentine's Day yesterday!! Personally, I stayed home, stamped and cuddled with my fur babies!!

For this week's GCA, we are framing, some or all, of images on your creation!!! As you can see in both of my samples, I framed only the main image. If you want to make a larger frame to fit you whole card, go for it!! As long as somewhere on your card there is a framed image!

My first sample is inspired by IC167 - which is a wonderful collection of artful bras!!! Anyway, I started playing around with my newest goodies: Trendy Trees and Good Morning Sunshine dsp and this is what I came out with! The layout is this week's sketch challenge on PCP. I think I may have stretched my interpretation on the IC this week, but I just love how this came out!! Actually, I took inspiration from two of the bras, Thelma and Louise and Hooters. They both have owls on them, and while my card doesn't use owls, I did use the dsp of blue birds! You can find the pictures here: http://www.quiltersofsc.org/artfullbras/artfullbras.htm

My scallop lace square started out as an attempt to make a larger square as Julie Buhler has shown on her blog. Didn't work so I went to plan B!! I used a 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" square and cut out a frame. I liked how the leftover frame looked so I set it aside for a future project, but in the end I used here!! It is popped up with dimensionals, as is the tree top and the bird. And yes, I cut that little bird from the dsp!!!

And as you can see, I did do the inside of my card as well!!

My second sample is actually on of the cards we made in club this month, minus the frame! As I was attempting to follow Julie's video I was playing with a leftover piece of Ruby Red. Again, I need to practice a lot more before I have this figured out!! But once I finished with my Trendy Trees card, I thought it would be neat to add the frame to my Little Birdie card. I really like how this sets off the bird, especially in the diamond shape!

You DO NOT have to use a edge punch to cut out your frame. Any type of frame will do. Use your square or round punches, coluzzle or other type of cutting system.

To be entered in the challenge drawing, make a card with a framed image, 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 February 20, 2009 at 12 midnight. I will choose the winner through a random number generator and post the next Saturday or 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, or Paper Craft Planet, please put GCA29(NO SPACE IN BETWEEN GCA AND 29) 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~~~

Stamping Simply with Inspiration

Hello everyone!!

I hope your holiday weekend is going well and you are enjoying the time. We had another beautiful day here in Michigan and tomorrow is no different, except maybe a little warmer. Not sure how much I'll be able to stamp tomorrow as I HAVE to clean out my gutters!!! I have a forest growing on one side! Oh the joys of home ownership and being a single woman!! But I have all my supplies and I'm not afraid to do it! Until then I have 2 cards to share with you today.

My first card is for Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply challenge she hosts every Friday on her blog, No Time to Stamp. This Friday the challenge was to "Make it Girly"#42! Well, when I think of girly I think of flowers, pinks and fancy ribbons to name a few things! Almost immediately I thought of the soon to be retired SU! set, Blossoms Abound. I haven't used it much, and I'm not sure why. I love lilacs and I love the look of the stamped images.

Part of Sharon's challenge is to stamp simply, which can be difficult for me!! I just don't seem to know when to stop! But I think I adhered pretty well to the stamp simply idea on this card. I stamped my lilacs three times, twice on the cardfront and once on a separate piece and then cut them out. I used Pretty in Pink and Purely Pomegranate ink, but I stamped off once on my Purely Pom. so it wouldn't overwhelm the Pretty in Pink.

My thought with the strip of cardstock at the top of the card is give the illusion of the lilacs hanging from a beam, so to speak. The middle lilac is up on thick foam squares, and yes I cut out the branch and leaves!!! Not sure what I was thinking, but I really do like the effect it provides. I then coated my lilac with crystal effects. Some sheer white ribbon edged in silver and piece of pink taffeta finishes it off.

I used PTI white cardstock here as I like how much sturdier it is than SU!'s white.

My second card is for today's IC135 on SCS. Steph inspired us to create based on enameled products from Macintosh Enamels. You can see the piece I was inspired by in the IC135 forum.

When I saw the plate I knew I wanted to use one of my carousel notes to provide the circular feel. Then I cut the largest circle from my Coluzzle, ran it through my Cuttlebug Stylized Flowers folder, after I sponged Wild Wasabi & River Rock ink onto the negative part of the folder. This I learned from Technique Junkies and it's called Cuttlebug Smoosh. I sponged the edges heavily with more Wild Wasabi to help achieve the darker green look from the plate.

The dragonflies were stamped in Choc. Chip, cut out and adhered with thick foam squares. More sponging around the sentiment and I layered this with Brushed Gold and Choc. Chip cardstock. A clip from the Aged Copper HPH set was used to hold the ribbons on. The sentiment panel is on using SU! dimensionals. As an added touch I used my 1/8" punch for the holes on each scallop section and mounted all of this on a 5" x 5" square card of River Rock textured.

Well, that's all I have for now! Off to make, and photo, a project for the July newsletter for Treehouse Stamps!!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

A Pink Pillow Hello!!

For today's Inspiration challenge, Karen presented us with a square throw pillow in pinks and brown with butterflies on it. I was really drawn to this pillow since I love pink & brown together and the butterflies were just the icing on the cake!! Make sure to check out the IC link in the side bar.

I decided to use an old sketch challenge #141 (not to old), but for some reason I wasn't "feeling" the sketch that week, but right away I knew this sketch is what I needed for this card.

Most of the stamping and layering I did here is self explanatory. I used the butterfly from Garden Whimsy for my main image. I inked it in Pretty in Pink and used my Choc. Chip & Regal Rose markers to highlight the wings and body. Light sponging in choc. chip was done on the edges. For this sketch the main image panel is diamond shape and Roxie wanted us to keep it that, but I forgot as I was cutting cardstock so I improvised and used the Choc. Chip panel as my diamond. I distressed the edges on this panel with my distressor tool.

On the base card I used my Whimsy wheel in PIP for a light BG look. The WW textured strips were done using Seeing Spots in PIP, Choc. Chip and Regal Rose. I stamped the CC and RR off once so they didn't overwhelm the card.

I kept my embellishments simple since the pillow also has a simple look to it. One rhinestone square fire brad and silver brads, along with a strip of white taffeta ribbon tied with pink organdy. I really miss the organdy ribbon SU! had. The main image panel is up on dimensionals. I wasn't sure about putting a sentiment on here since that would mean another layer so I almost left it off, but I saw my Happy Hello (from the now retired AYC1) and knew that would be perfect!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

Inspiration Challenge 8/25

Hello Stampers!!

Each Saturday Karen posts a picture of some item, such as a bedspread, piece of clothing, dinnerware or artwork, to inspire us to creat beautiful cards! This week the inspiration was a piece of artwork and can be found in the IC forum. The link is on the right. I also used Beate's Friday sketch to make my card. I love this layout!! But I really like to use circles in my cards. You can check out Beate's blog by clicking on her link in the side bar.

While this card looks like a lot of work, it came together remarkably quickly. But when you already have a sketch prepared for you it makes thinks much easier!! For me the part I like the best, I think!, is the BG. The BG was done using the Doodle jumbo wheel which I first wheeled in Sage Shadow and then went over different parts with Real Red, More Mustard and Old Olive markers.

The flowers are from Close As A Memory and colored with the same markers and stamped onto VV. Again, because I cannot stand the glare off the VV, I stamped Linen in Barely Banana on first. After I stamped the flowers I outlined them with the Ruby Red marker for more definition. The flowers on the circles were lightly stamped off first then onto the VV.

And since I seem to be obsessed with distressing, I distressed the gold, Soft Sky and Real Red center panel and oval. Paper piercing is done on the red center strip and soft sky main image panel. The main image is up on thick foam squares and the oval sentiment panel is on foam tape. I used the Soft Sky double stiched ribbon and a piece of Mustard gg. The sentiment came from Vases in Vogue, Level 3 hostess set.


Again, I love how this turned out and I have a very special person in mind to send this too! She really needs to have some "Happy Mail" flooding her mailbox and I hope this gives her a bit of sunshine.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~