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~~~