Christmas Cards Galore!!!

I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving Day yesterday!!! I spent the day with my son's girlfriend's family, and talk about the food her mom made!!! I think I gained 10lbs!!! And how many of you ventured out for Black Friday shopping today?? Not me! I've done that for many years and it gets a little tiresome after awhile. I am going out after I post this, but to Home Depot to look at items for my soon to be completed new Stamp Room!!!!!! Besides I have a lot of my Christmas shopping done. On to the cards!! All 4 cards I have to show you are Christmas cards as I am working on completing them with each of the SCS challenges I do.

The first card is for the color challenge this week of Wild Wasabi, Pretty in Pink and Shimmery White.

I've wanted to try the layout of the card on the front cover of the November Paper Crafts mag, and so that is what I did for this card. The sample card did not have a sentiment on it and is regular size, but I made mine 5" square and added a sentiment. I wanted to keep the angular feel of the main image panel with the sentiment panel so I only punched 3 corners with the tag corner punch. I used Wild Wasabi textured for the card base.

My second card is for Sketch Challenge 151. A very simple, and easily reproducible layout, for this week. For the main image I used my Cuttlebug snowflakes folder and did the Cuttlebug Smoosh technique from the Oct/Nov '07 Technique Junkies newsletter. A very fun and easy technique to do!

I used Pretty in Pink textured as my base, Cranberry Crisp (need to use this up!) and white from PaperTrey. This paper is heavier and embosses great! My ink I used on the snowflakes is the Cotton Candy spectrum pad.

The main image snowflake and sentiment were stamped in silver metallic and embossed in silver. I did tool distressing on the Cranberry panel edges. Faux brads punched from silver cardstock complete it!

The third card is for Ways to Use It 141 - Faux Stitching. I have some card bases left from last Christmas I found and so I am using those up as well!!

My faux stitching is done with the x's from All In A Row in black craft. Beate does this all the time, and I have tried it a few times with so, so results, but this time I think they came out pretty good! I used Dashing dp on here along with Always Artichoke and Naturals Ivory.

My flower is from Time Well Spent, a new level 3 hostess set coming out in the Spring/Summer 08 catalog. This was gift to demos from SU! How sweet was that!!

My intent here was to create the look of a poinsettia, or a Christmas type flower, and I think I did ok. I used my Bravo Burgundy marker on the outside edges and a blender pen to draw the color into the flower. I did the same thing on the leaves.

A few buttons and some ribbon and this card is done!!!

My fourth, and last card, is for Limited Supplies challenge 141 - Sensational Snowflakes. For this challenge you could only use snowflakes, one sentiment, main colors had to be neutrals, one embellishment, one speciality tool and just a touch of color.

I decided to go with the blacks and grays, just to see how they would look in this combo. Again, I did the Cuttlebug Smoosh with the snowflakes folder using Going Gray ink. Some wide white gg and a touch of blue taffeta, and it's done!!


Well I'm off to Home Depot and such for items I NEED for my new stamp room!!




Take care and Happy Stamping!!



~~~Ann~~~

Believe in Santa

Most of you know by know on Sunday SCS has the Featured Stamper, and this week it is Shelly aka Papermoon04!! What a fabulous gallery!! You have to check out the FS for this and see all of Shelly's great work.

I had a hard time picking out just one card, and then I saw this card here: I Believe . I just received my Santa from Lizzie Anne Designs and I knew this was a great chance to use!!

The changes I made were:

*Colors, stamps*I used brads in the right upper corner instead of eyelets

*I placed my sentiment on an oval punched piece on the lower left

*I ran my ribbons under the vertical panel

*My dp is layered on colored cardstock

I embossed Santa in black and colored him in with different mediums. On his hat I used Reneejul's No Copics, No Problem! technique, on his face I used the Blush Blossom marker and his beard, mustache and eyebrows were done with my Signo white gel pen. I used a small pom pom for the ball of his hat.


Nothing major to describe about my card except how I colored Santa.

My second card uses Beate's week end sketch and a new technique from Technique Junkies: Cuttlebug Smoosh! Check out TJ from the link in side bar for more info on the fabulous newsletter Pat puts out every other month!

I joined in the TJ swap and this is my swap card. I used the snowflakes folder and Cotton Candy spectrum pad for my main image. I also used PaperTrey's white cardstock for the embossing. Since it is heavier weight than SU's! I think you get a deeper embossed image.

And since I like to use more non-traditional colors for Christmas, I went with Cranberry Crisp, Pretty in Pink, Always Artichoke and Brushed Gold. I used my crimper on the Artichoke strip to give even more dimension to the card.

The single snowflake is from Season of Joy stamped in whisper white craft and embossed in white ep. The sentiment is from So Many Sayings stamped in Artichoke and punched out with the WW punch and layered onto both oval punch pieces. I took the plunge and cut my So Many Sayings apart and mounted them on EZ Mount and use them with a clear block. This makes this so much easier to use this set!!!

Well this makes 2 more Christmas cards done!! How are your's coming???


Take care and Happy Stamping!!


~~~Ann~~~

Simply Thanks from the Heart

Hello fellow stampers!! Fridays mean Limited Supply Challenge over on SCS! For this challenge you have to follow the list, which is:

A) Use 2-3 stamps - one should be a heart image or sentiment.
B) Choose one designer paper pattern OR one embellishment.
C) Choose one specialty tool. (Optional)
D) Limit the layers.
E) Use any coloring tools.

On my card I used exactly 3 stamps: 2 hearts and a sentiment from Simply Said. This is the set I thought of immediately after I read the first "rule"! And since this set is a 2 step stampin' set, it took up 2 stamps right off the top. I wanted to use Linen on the Only Orange layer, but I couldn't.

The layout I used came from the new Paper Crafts magazine I received today. It is the January recipe 2 on page 30. I opted for an embellishment instead of dp because of the layout. This gives the feeling of a hanging picture on your card. I used Vanilla wide grosgrain.

My speciality tool I used is the Martha Stewart scallop border punch I recently bought. I love how this looks when completed.

My color scheme came from a card I saw on SCS using Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie and Cool Caribbean. I really miss Cool Caribbean, but I stocked up on it as much as I could in June!! I used Chocolate Chip textured here.

I really did limit my layers on this card. Actually the hardest part of this card was running the ribbon through the front image. Overall this card probably took me 30 minutes to make.

Take care and Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Featured Stamper Sunday - Stampowl!

Hello my fellow stampers!! Today is FS day on SCS. Beth chose Stampowl aka Frances for the honor this week. If you have time stop on over to SCS and check out FS40 for the link to her gallery. Frances has some unique and beautiful cards. The card I chose to CASE she made from Sissix dies, but I used a stamp set. You can see her card here: 1st Birthday Card.

The changes I made are:

*Stamp set instead of Sissix dies - I used Zoofari

*Colors - I used Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky, Ruby Red and Naturals White (This weeks Color Challenge)

*Sponged my sky and made clouds with cutouts

*Added the photo corners and brads

*Kept mine a birthday card, but changed the sentiment

Now for some details about the card. I made my grass my cutting small snips in the cardstock and then just fanned them out.

The rhino and zebra were first stamped in black craft and then embossed with black ep. I used my watercolor wonder crayons to color them in. The monkey was stamped in Chocolate Chip and colored with the WWC as well. It seems every time I use this set that little guy somehow makes onto the card!! He's a scamp!

The birds were colored with the Ruby Red marker omitting the legs so they look they are flying. I distressed the edges of the Soft Sky base and I'm done!

I had fun making this card as it will be for my nephew for his birthday. As he has a twin sister, I will make another but in girly colors for her.

Take care and Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Santa's Workshop and I've Been Tagged!!

Hello my fellow stampers!! Wow, I didn't realize I hadn't posted in awhile! Sorry about that. What I have to show you today are the projects my guests made at my recent Santa's Workshop I held. I charged $15 for the class, and I really should have charged $20 or $25. The projects included:

*3 Christmas cards - everyone made 2 of each

*An altered mini book, jumbo paperclip bookmark and decorated pen

*3 3 x 3 gift cards - everyone made 2 of each design

*A decorated gift bag and tag

*Hanging coaster photo display

*Set of binder clip photo holders

The class was scheduled for 3 hours and everyone took the entire class time to make this projects!! But we were also laughing, talking and eating as we stamped!! I have a couple more of my customers who were unable to make it last Sunday and so I am doing a class for them this Saturday.

Now, on to the tagging!! Michelle S. of Wanna Stamp, tagged me on October 31st. Sorry Michelle I didn't notice sooner!


Ok, as I said before... Michelle tagged me, and I had to do the following:

1. Link to the person that tagged you. (*done!*)

2. Post 7 random/weird facts about yourself on your blog (can I really come up with 7?!).

3. Tag 7 people at the end and link to their blog.

4. Leave comments on each blog you tag so they know their tagged!!

My 7 random/wierd facts:

1. I recently turned 41, I have a 20 1/2 years ols son who graced me at an early age with a grandson who is now 2 1/2 (you do the math!!!) and I live with 4 cats!!!

2. My friends call me Annabanana or Annabelle! OR they call me "The Crazy Cat Lady"!!

3. I am newly single and loving !!!

4. I am renovating/remodeling my entire home RIGHT now and hope to be done by January!! Am I crazy or what????

5. I am a nurse professionally and obtained my master's in Nursing Education in 2006 and start work as a clinical instructor at a local community college in January.

6. I live in Michigan and can't stand the cold winter months!!

7. I've been on medical mission trips to San Cristobel, Guatemala.

Now for my 7 fellow bloggers to tag!! Aren't they in for a surprise!!

1. Fat Cat Stamper - Danielle's blog is filled with awesome and amazing designs and projects!!

2. INKspired Treasures - Connie is a fellow Technique Junkie and a design team member for TJ.

3. Just Give Me Stamps - Anyone who visits SCS on a regular basis knows just what a fabulous stamper and creator Laurie is! And she is currently a part of the Dirty Dozen!!

4. Kimm's Daily Grace - Kimm is a wonderful stamper and also a fellow Technique Junkie!! Her blog is full of beautiful creations!

5. kwernerdesign - Kristina has an amazing and delightfully simple approach to her card designs!! You'll love it!

6. Stamping Therapy - This is the blog by Jen70 from SCS. She does the Limited Supplies challenge every Friday and has a Saturday challenge on her blog! She does the most adorable and darling cards.

7. The Crafty Cat - Michelle has a great style to her cards and she has become a good cyber friend of mine!!

Well, there's my 7 bloggers for everyone to check out! I hope I provided some new blogs for all of you to visit. Each wonderful lady I listed has an amazing talent and flair to her creations!

I'll have more cards and such for you soon, I promise!! I have two on my table right now that are just about done!

Take care and Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Sending a Friend Smiles

Hello stampers and fellow bloggers!! Well I'm up late again tonight and Beth, MyPrecious on SCS, posted the Featured Stamper so I played now!! This week's FS is nitestamper. She has an amazing style and and wonderful layouts on her cards. As I've said before, the layout is what usually draws me to a card and that was no exception with this week either. Here is a link to her card I cased: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/657967?cat=500&ppuser=10116

The changes I made are:

*Stamp set: True Friend, Linen, Thoughtful Phrases from Verve Visual
*Colors: River Rock, Choc. Chip, Close to Cocoa, Wild Wasabi, Really Rust, Very Vanilla, Apple Cider dp

*I used the photo corners punch for the main image

*Omitted brads on the ribbon and used hat pin and pearls from my Pretties Kit

*Distressed the Really Rust, Choc. Chip and Wild Wasabi panels with distressor tool

On my flower I stamped this three times in Choc. Chip, Really Rust and Wild Wasabi and then cut it out at different points. The middle and top layers are up on dimensionals. The entire main image panel is up on foam tape. I stamped Linen in Close to Cocoa, very lightly, and sponged the edges.

Looks like a lot of work, but surprisingly it came together very quickly. If you are so inclined, take a trip over to the Featured Stamper forum and look at nitestamper's gallery. I'm sure you'll find some more inspiration!!

Take care and Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

Kindred Spirits & More!!

Hello fellow stampers!!

I have some creations to finally share with you!! My first card is from last Wednesday's SC (10-17-07). I placed an order with PaperTrey and bought some of their white cardstock. Talk about heavy and durable cardstock!! This is perfect for using as a base card. I will still continue to use my SU! white for stamped images and such, but SU!'s white is rather light to use for a base card. On this card I used Garden Silhouettes as my focal image and went with a pink/brown combo. I love pink and brown together.

I used my SU! markers to color the image and then stamped onto the cardstock. I lightly sponged the edges in Pretty in Pink & Close to Cocoa. The larger piece of dp is from Apple Cider which is in the Holiday mini, as well as the chocolate satin ribbon. I overlayed a piece of pink taffeta with that.

The smaller pink/white panel is first stamped with Linen in Close to Cocoa and overstamped with the polka dots from the Happiness BG stamp in Pretty in Pink. Light sponging of the edges in Close to Cocoa. The dp is from Petals and Paisleys and was a scrap from a former project. This is the negative piece from the punch out with Square Steps.

The flowers on the main image come from PaperTrey are made by Maya Road and are velvet!! So yummy! The main panel is up on foam tape.

My next SC card is this week's sketch. This week Roxie set some ground rules: the left panel had to be asymmetrical and not touch either end of the base card, the top panel could not touch the left panel and had to be wider than it is tall. She also suggested we use lots of hardware!!

So I was itching to use my Wanted set again with some of the Outlaw dp I haven't used yet. My colors I chose were Sage Shadow, Choc. Chip, Natural Ivory with a hint of Really Rust.

All of the base panels are distressed with my disstessor tool and the bottom panel is inked with Sage Shadow. The main image panel was done in a collage effect and overstamped with Linen in Choc. Chip, 3rd generation.

My western medallion was stamped in Really Rust and rock n rolled in Choc. Chip, punched with the scallop circle and layered on a copper scallop. This was adhered with foam tape. The copper brad finishes it off.

I went to a craft store on Monday called Crafts 2000, and bought this really neat mobile scrapbooking cart to help me keep things handy while I do my room renovations. This cart can store a ton of stuff!! It came with the 4 hanging files, 2 baskets and four shelves. The plastic bins under the files I purchased separately and they store extra 12 x 12 paper, chipboard and other stuff. It also rolls around easily. Here is a pic:

Well, that's all I have for now! I am working on some more creations to show you and will post more over the weekend.

Take care and Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~