Happy Cupcake Day!!!

Hello everyone!! I have one card for which incorporates 2 of this week's challenges on SCS!!! The TLC is for Paper Tole and the Ways to Use It is for rub-ons!

To be honest I had never used rub-ons before SU! put them out in the newest catalog! I was a little afraid to use them at first, but after I did I fell in love with them!! They are so easy to use and make a great addition to your card, project or whatever you are working on!!! On here I used the SAB Love & Happiness rub-ons.

My basic layout for this card came from one of the cover creations from the December 2007 issue of cards. I like the simple layout and how it lets me put the focus on the main image, which is the cupcake!!

The TLC for this week is Paper Tole. There are two layers of the cupcake, but the third frosting layer is up on thicker dimensionals than the bottom portion. I put a clear raindrop over the cherry to give it added depth.

Paper tole is where the same image is stacked to provide dimension to the key features. Since I only have the cupcake, I kind of went a little crazy with dimensionals and foam squares!!! My picture isn't the best and I may re-take it tomorrow during the day. It's hard to see the depth of the Paper Tole, but it's there!

Doesn't the cupcake look yummy enough to eat?? This stamp and the sentiment are available from Treehouse Stamps. If you haven't yet checked them, head over there right now and see all the wonderful stamps they have!! There is also an awesome sale going on right now!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Flowers & Sweets....How Neat!!!

Ok, I'm tired and I know that title is corny, but my cards encompass both! And yes I said cards!!! I have 2 to show you tonight!

The first is for this week's color challenge on SCS: Apricot Appeal, Cameo Coral, Creamy Caramel and Mellow Moss. Colors which evoke warm thoughts of spring, but I used sweets instead!

I used the newest set from Treehouse Stamps: Sweets for the Sweet. It is filled with all kinds of different baking and sweets type stamps.

I made a collage on the large square panel and then cut out the gingerbread man, lollipop and cookie cutter and put those on dimensionals.

I also used the design challenge in the newest Take Ten to see how I liked it. I think I will play around with it some more and send in a card or two.

For the sentiment panel I used my Marvy mega scallop and super circle punches, Fiskars cutting system and SU! key tab punches. Some shading with DTP in Creamy Caramel, dots with the white gel pen and voila!!

I used a copper swirl clip with the ribbon, which is white twill and SU!'s Mellow Moss grosgrain.

My second card uses the same color combo, but in conjunction with this week's sketch challenge on SCS. I love the simple and easy use of this sketch and feel it will be one I use alot. Maybe I can use this for convention swaps!!! Better start thinking about those now, you know!!!

The idea for this popped in my head immediately as I was laying the cardstock out, and I just love how it turned out.

This is my first time using something other than a *true* flower stamp to make a flower!!! I used the Rock n Roll technique for the flowers. And I needed a thank you card, so that's how I decided to use Curvy Verses. I think the style of the phrase goes well with this card.

I used the flower from So Many Scallops and then punched a 1" circle and the large flower from my Boho Blossoms punch to make the center. A neutrals button and linen thread finish it off.

For the stems and leaves I used the Mellow Moss and Certainly Celery grosgrain. The flowers are up on dimensionals for extra depth.

I used my distressor tool on the edges of the Mellow Moss panel and the Apricot Appeal dsp from the hostess level 1 pack.

Off to bed now!! Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Wishing for Spring!!

Well here in Michigan we are having one day of snow and freezing cold temps and the next day it is beautiful and warm!! Today I think it was almost 50!! But gloomy and overcast and rainy! So if spring wont come when I want it to, then I'll just make a card which reminds me of spring!

This card uses the Go Green and Everyday Sentiments sets from Treehouse Stamps which is available now. I just the big tree and think of what I can do with for any season. And the side stamps that come with it are darling!!

On this card I used brown staz-on for every image and then watercolored them with my watercolor wonder crayons and a blender pen. I just love how the Brilliant Blue cardstock makes the focal image "pop"!

The bird and butterfly are up on dimensionals for added effect.

The next card is also from Treehouse Stamps and is their Farm-tastic Set. This set is filled with wonderfully cute farm animals and farm accessories!!

The llama was calling me, and since I have never stamped a llama I went for it! Just a simple layout, using up some of my retired Outlaw dsp.

The entire panel with the llama is up on dimensionals and then the mouse scallop is up on one more.

I'll have more to post soon!!! Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

Purely Organic Thanks

This week's color combo on SCS are colors which lend themselves to elegance!! Purely Pomegranate, Basic Black and Basic Gray.

I needed to make a thank you card for my MI secret sis from the MI Minglers event held this past weekend in Birch Run, MI. My secret sis was Debbie Stevens and if you have the newest copy of Take Ten, she's got 2 cards in there!!!

I started with my base card of Purely Pomegranate and then just played around with the other 2 colors until I found layout and look I liked. I knew I didn't want the black to have very heavy presence since the card base was already a dark color. I also decided to use white eyelets on the photo corners instead of brads for different look.

The white neutrals is actually Shimmery White and just gives that extra pop of elegance to the card. The flower charm was a last minute thought as I was finishing up and I think it adds just the right touch here.

The flower stamp I used is from the new Simply Organic set from Treehouse Stamps which was released on March 7th. You can check out the site here: Treehouse Stamps. You wont be sorry you did!! I used my Always Artichoke marker to color the stem and my Purely Pomegranate stamp pad and blender pen to do the flowers directly on the stamp. The sentiment is with their new Everyday Sentiment set.

The main image panel of the textured Basic Gray and Shimmery White is up on dimensionals and then the sentiment ovals is on another dimensional!!

I'm in the process of making a notepad to go with this and I'll post that later.

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Some Oldies, but Goodies for You!!!

Just a quick post of some cards I've completed recently and haven't shared. Then off to work for me this afternoon!!!

This card was created for Color Challenge 152: Real Red, Ballet Blue and Apricot Appeal. I have used Apricot Appeal and Real Red together, but not with Ballet Blue. Honestly, Ballet Blue is a color I do not use very often! This was a valentine I sent to a special friend.

I started with my Ballet Blue large panel already stamped with Tres Chic in the same ink. The edges were distressed with my distressor tool as was the smaller Apricot Appeal panel. The rest of the layers are pretty simple to follow in the picture, but the ribbon treatment is what I really like!

I used the new Boho Blossoms punch for the flowers, punched a hole in the center, knotted a strip of White taffeta and threaded it through the hole. The hole I punched was little big so I had to play with it some to keep the knot from pulling through! I put a small piece of SNAIL on the ends and stuck 'em down! I really like how the ends frames the image panel.

This card was made for Featured Stamper challenge #53: Sarah Green. She has an amazing gallery and I just loved the three panel card she made. You view it here: Thank You Mom

My changes to the card are:

*Colors, stamps, and holidays!!

*I placed my sentiment on a separate piece of cardstock

*I used one less layer on image panels

*I only used two ribbons on each tie on

I kept her same layout and number of layers on the other parts.

My last creation for you today are pictures of nametags I am making for an upcoming get together happening in Frankenmuth/Birch Run, MI on March 7 & 8th!!!!!! A group of SCS MI gals are meeting for a fun-filled weekend of stamping, eating and having an all around fun time!!!! I have 56 nametags to make and not many started!!!!

My goal was to make them easy, quick and simple to make, but not boring!! I think I succeed! What do you think? The names will be printed off the computer and then trimmed to fit the tag. The finished size of the nametags is 3 x 4.

I'm using up my large stash of retired Petals & Paisley's dsp and the flowers are from So Many Scallops SAB set and the Boho Blossoms punch. On the back will be a pin to attach them with. Each nametag will be slightly different so we a variety for everyone!!!

That's all for today!!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

New Treehouse Stamps coming!!!

I have been such a slacker lately in posting my cards, that I am soooo ashamed!!! Please forgive me!!! I went back to work on February 4th, and with a new job comes new responsibilities and long hours! I have been stamping, but sometimes when I come home I am so tired. I have even toyed with the idea of no blogging, but I do love doing this, so I guess I better quit being such a slacker!!!

With all this said, I have a sneak peek of new stamps coming out by Treehouse Stamps on March 7th!! I must say this new collection is an awesome one and these peeks are just the beginning!!

The first one I just absolutely love!!! How true is the sentiment on here: "Enjoy Life's Simple Pleasures". What is simpler than a hot bubble bath?? But do we take the time for ourselves to do this? Most likely not!

My color combo for this came from the new designer paper from SU! in the upcoming Occasions mini beginning March 1st. This set here is called Summer Picinic. The layout is SC164 over on SCS. I used silver stickles on the bubbles and bath water. I also used the new Old Olive polytwill on here. That is also available on March 1st in the Occasions mini.

I used my watercolor crayons and blender pen to color the image, some DTP to the cardstock panels and that's it!

My second card uses CC155 on SCS: Basic Black, River Rock and Whisper White. Since this combo really lends itself to an "elegant" look, I thought these tulips would be perfect. I colored the tulips with the River Rock ink pad and blender pen and my Always Artichoke marker for the stems.

The River Rock panel was run through my CB with the Textile folder after I inked it up with white craft ink. I did more DTP on the panels and layered them up. The saying is embossed with clear ep in black craft.

I hope you enjoy these! I'll work on getting more of these up later this week.

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

FINALLY.........

I stamped!!!! At least for the fun of it anyway!!! I've spent the better of January prepping for two large stamping events I was involved in and they kind of overtook my life!!! And procrastinating doesn't help either!!!

I also have been working on finishing up as many projects in my house as I can before I start my new job this Monday!!! I am so excited. Staying home has been nice, but it's time to get back to the daily routine of getting up every moring and so on!!

Now to the stamping projects! I decided I would apply for the Display Stampers for the 2008 SU! convention and the projects I have here for you are the ones I submitted. You were to submit 3 cardfronts, a 6 x 6 page and an 8.5 x 11 or 12 x 12 page.

I went with an 8.5 x 11 page as I thought this might be a little easier since I do not scrapbook on regular basis. I had a hard time trying to decide what exactly I was going to do, and as I was looking through my photos on the computer, I came across these pictures of a hummingbird I took last August. I just love how these pictures came out and I quite surprised myself with how well I liked my end result of the scrapbook page. I used the Touch of Nature set on here and pulled my colors from the photos. What do you think?

This is the 6 x 6 page I did. You may notice this page and layout from an earlier one I did, but this has a few changes. I removed the copper metal edged tag (retired) and the twill tape across the top along with the copper brads. In place of those I used a brushed copper circle, my scallop punch and distressor on the edges of the copper circle and the photo mat. I really like how this photo of my grandson Cameron goes so well with the Wanted set and these colors. The layout is from the SU! planner 2007.

This card uses Boatloads of Love, which the images I received from the SCS wish RAK forum. I also used SC160 and CC150 of Real Red, Blue Bayou and Soft Sky. I like how this card would be an appropriate Valentine for a male. I used my watercolor crayons to color in the images and used the 1/2" circle punch on Basic Gray textured cardstock to make the "tires" on the edge of the boat. I then cut a slit along the edge of the dingy and slipped the heart in.

This card is a copy of one I completed a few weeks ago as part of the IC on SCS. I needed to make some changes here as well to use only all SU! products. On my original card I used my white cardstock from PraperTrey Ink as it's heavier, but here I used Tempting Turquiose as my base and layered it with Shimmery White. The white embossing is the same, as well as the bird. On here I did emboss the bird in black ep. The ''smile" is from the Eastern Elegance rub ons. I used Baroque Motifs and A Little Birdie Told Me sets.

My last card uses the new Embrace Life set and the new Ginger Blossoms dp. I just love how these colors go so well together. I used Ruby Red, So Saffron and Groovy Guava. Not much to explain about on here.

Now that my stamping mojo has returned and I am slowing down on the home improvement projects, I will be stamping more and posting more!!!! I have my stamp room done and 90% percent put together so will get pics up soon!!! I promise!!!

And I want to leave you with a picture from my wonderful trip to San Francisco!!!! This is one of my very best friends, Deb, who I went with at the Golden Gate Bridge lookput point!!! A truly magnificent bridge!!

Happy Stamping & Take Care!!!!

~~~Ann~~~