Margarita anyone?

This card uses a technique I had never tried before the last round of VSN: Scratch and sniff! There's a great tutorial for the technique on SCS, but the quick and dirty of it is that you mix Kool-aid (the plain stuff, no sugar or artificial sweetener) with clear embossing powder, and emboss as usual. For this card, I stamped the margaritas, colored them with Copics, then highlighted the limes and the margarita slush in the glasses with my embossing pen, then embossed them with a mix of clear EP and lemon-lime Kool-aid. It worked pretty well, even though the amount of stuff actually embossed is pretty small. You can still smell the citrus scent, though.
Supplies:
Stamps: $1 margarita, Lots of Thoughts (SU)
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics, cool caribbean
Paper: pretty in pink, gable green, cool caribbean, Euphoria DP from Basic Grey, Neenah classic crest solar white
Accessories: tag punches, slot punch, ribbon, EP, Kool-aid, corner rounder

Fall colors

I have been feeling the fall colors lately - I guess I am ready for it to be here, especially since it has been so warm lately. I love fall, when the air turns crisp and the leaves change! The first card is for Kandi's VSN challenge to watercolor on your card. I was looking for some watercolor paper for the challenge when I discovered some old watercolor paints in my craft supply stash. I am not a good painter or watercolorist, but I enjoy dabbling occasionally. I hadn't used the paints in ages, but they came right back to life with a little water.
Supplies:
Stamps: Friends are like Flowers
Ink: Stazon black
Paper: ballet blue, old olive, pumpkin pie, watercolor, My Mind's Eye DP
Accessories: watercolors, slot punch, eyelet, ribbon
This card was for Linda's "dusty trail" challenge, inspired by Western books such as Louis L'Amour. She asked us to "dust off" stamps from our stash that hadn't been used in at least a month. I pulled out this great old standby set, Fantastic Foliage, and figured I'd get started on some fall cards!
Supplies:
Stamps: Fantastic foliage, $1 sentiment
Ink: pumpkin pie, old olive, really rust
Paper: really rust, old olive, pumpkin pie, confetti white
Accessories: ticket punch, ribbon

Red Dress

My friend Denise came up with a great challenge for VSN - to make a fancy card a la the children's book series "Fancy Nancy." I knew exactly which stamps I wanted to use - my brand-new Gina K Designs set Retro Boutique, designed by Rupe Shevde. I was a benefactor of Gina's generosity; she donated several gift certificates to the SCS Midwest Flood Relief raffle, and I won one of them! Woohoo! I ordered a couple of sets and some other goodies, including those silver dots on the Primas on this card. As for the construction of this card, I stamped the dress image in Memento Tuxedo black ink, then colored it with Copics before covering the entire piece of paper in Versamark and embossing with iridescent ice EP. I figured that was pretty fancy! And it is definitely sparkly!
Supplies:
Stamps: Retro Boutique, Gina K
Ink: Memento Tuxedo black, Copics
Paper: real red, whisper white, basic black, CM silver
Accessories: Cuttlebug, embossing powder, Primas, glitter dots, ribbon

Piggy Wiglet

I really enjoyed all of the VSN challenges, but Jacqueline's might have been my favorite! She challenged us to make cards inspired by our favorite children's book. There is no question my favorite book as a young child was "Piggy Wiglet." Behind the card in the photo is my book. If you look closely you can see the worn binding and the tape that was once used to keep it together. Inside, some of the pages are torn, and I think there's some crayon scribbled in a few places. It is a well-loved book. The story is about a pig who escapes to chase the sun. The sun is represented by a large circle on every page. For my book, I used colors inspired by the book - pink for the pig and yellow for the sun - as well as a pig image and circles to represent the sun. This is another 6.25 by 3.5 inches - a favorite size of mine right now.
Supplies:
Stamps: Very Punny (retired SU)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers
Paper: pretty in pink, barely banana, Neenah classic crest solar white, retired SU patterned paper
Accessories: Nestabilities, CM circle cutter, ribbon, corner rounder

Tall iris

This is another of my VSN favorites. The challenge was to use purple on your card, and it was inspired by the book "The Color Purple." I love this Penny Black iris and often stamp it in shades of purple. This time, I inked the flower in amethyst and rolled the edges in eggplant. I also heated the edges of this beautiful organdy ribbon so they would curl a bit (be careful if you do this, I burned a little hole in my ribbon! Fortunately it doesn't show.) The card measures 6.25 by 3.5 inches.
Supplies:
Stamps: Penny Black iris, sentiment from Short and Sweet (SU)
Ink: eggplant, amethyst, artichoke
Paper: eggplant, amethyst, artichoke, shimmery white
Accessories: edge distresser from Tonic, ribbon, brads

A set of inchies

My friend Karen's VSN challenge was to use an inchie or inchies on your card. An inchie is a one-inch square of artwork that can be used in any number of ways. I had received a little inchie sampler kit from Ellen Hutson awhile back and pulled it out to use for this challenge. The kit included these darling Lockhart stamps images and the chipboard squares they are mounted on. The first two cards I submitted for the VSN challenge, but I also made two more to make a cute little set of four. I used 3.5 by 5-inch notecards I picked up on clearance at Target.
I colored each image with Copics, cut out two of the images and mounted them on black squares and mounted two on white squares. I used by Cuttlebug embossing borders folders to add some embossing detail to the plain white note cards. A little ribbon and simple sentiments finished off the cards.
Supplies:
Stamps: Lockhart stamps, SU sentiments
Ink: Unknown black, Copic markers, caribbean, soft sky, ballet blue, bashful blue
Paper: Target notecards, ballet blue, bashful blue, soft sky, cool caribbean
Accessories: inchie chipboard squares, ribbon, Cuttlebug borders

Terrific twine

This is one of my favorite VSN cards from this last round. Krista's challenge, inspired by the craft of bookbinding, was to use twine on your card. I often use twine in place of ribbon on masculine cards, but this time I decided to go feminine. My SU hemp twine is a good match for river rock cardstock, so I used river rock, moss and eggplant as my color combo. This came together fast, but I like the end result.
Supplies:
Stamps: Friendship flowers
Ink: mellow moss, eggplant, river rock
Paper: vanilla, moss, eggplant, river rock
Accessories: scallop punch, hemp twine, dimensionals, swiss dots Cuttlebug folder, brads

Lots of VSN to share

I have lots of VSN cards to share with you over the next few days! The weekend was a smashing success, despite some trouble with the SCS servers. If you have time, check out the challenges HERE and comment on some of the great cards people made for them. The first card today is for Tonya's pearly challenge, inspired by "Alice in Wonderland." I embossed the shells in white embossing powder on bashful blue cardstock, then painted them lightly with Ranger Perfect Pearls in blush and pearl to give them that pearly sheen. I also discovered that the sentiments from Lots of Thoughts fit perfectly in the small SU tag punch - cool!
Supplies:
Stamps: Stipple Shells (retired SU)
Ink: versamark, bashful blue
Paper: bashful blue, blush blossom, Neenah classic crest solar white
Accessories: Cuttlebug, ribbon, tag punches, Perfect Pearls
Continuing the bashful blue theme, this card is for Paula's challenge to use felt or flocking. She was inspired by the warm, fuzzy feeling you get when reading books such as "Pride and Prejudice." I pulled out my flocking - only have white! - and used it on this cute sheep. I also added some details to the image using my white gel pen.
Supplies:
Stamps: Everyday celebrations, Short and Sweet
Ink: Stazon black
Paper: bashful blue, basic black, Neenah classic crest solar white
Accessories: Cuttlebug, gel pen, white flocking, ribbon, rattle charm, eyelets

Who knew VSN was so popular?

This weekend is Virtual Stamp Night on Splitcoast. Unfortunately, SCS has been having some server difficulties the last few days, and last night, and again this afternoon, the site seems to have crashed just as VSN was supposed to get underway! It's such a shame because the coordinators and hostesses have been working so long to make this such a fun and fabulous stamping event. Today's hiccup was much shorter than yesterday's, at least so far, so that is good! And the great thing about VSN is you can play all weekend. I hope you'll give some of the challenges a try if you can.
For now, though, a card. This is for Kelly/schirmcat's challenge from Friday night. Hers was a challenge for kids to play, but she opened it to adults, too, which is perfect since I don't have any kiddoes to stamp with. Kelly asked us to make a card featuring one of characters from the Eric Carle book "Brown bear, brown bear." I chose the green frog for this simple but happy card.
Supplies:
Stamps: Very punny
Ink: stazon black, SU markers
Paper: glorious green, gable green, Neenah classic crest solar white
Accessories: Cuttlebug, nestabilities, CM circle cutter, stickles (on the frog spots)

The Shipping News

VSN is here! I am one of the challenge hosts, and my challenge was inspired by the book "The Shipping News." Annie Proulx tells a colorful story of a man who retreats to Newfoundland and takes a job at the local newspaper, The Gammy Bird, to support his two young daughters. His main task is to write about the shipping news and his job serves as a backdrop for the story. In some ways, The Gammy Bird becomes a character in the book.
For my challenge, I'm asking VSN participants to use newspaper as an element on their card or project! In my sample, I found an image of newspaper mastheads by searching Google images, then printed it out on cardstock. I also printed the sentiment on my computer.
The challenges are open all weekend, and if you'd like to play in mine or any of the others, we'd love to have you. You can find all the details HERE! And if you have questions, feel free to post them in the comments and I will do my best to answer them!
Supplies:
Paper: real red, basic black, Neenah classic crest solar white
Accessories: computer, image from Google, Cuttlebug distressed stripes, brads from JoAnn's

VSN is coming!

I am going to have lots of new cards for you over the next few days because this weekend is Virtual Stamp Night on SCS, and I have made a number of samples for the various challenges that will go up Friday night and Saturday. I am hosting one of the challenges Friday night and I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with for it. Everyone is welcome to play VSN. You can find all the details HERE!
In the meantime, I thought I would share a couple of the cards I received from my secret sister this round of VSN. I do not know who she is yet, but I know she has made me some lovely cards! The first one uses the new Stampin Up in colors and one of the hostess sets. I love bunnies, so that card is perfect for me. The second card has a really cool dragonfly that is watercolored. Thanks, secret sis!

Channeling Tim Holtz

I have been stamping quite a bit the last couple of days, but I can't share any of it yet! I'm getting ready for the big Virtual Stamp Night weekend Friday and Saturday. I am hosting a challenge Friday night and will be participating in the others. There are some really fun challenges, all revolving around our theme of books. You can find out all the details HERE. Hope you can join us.
In the meantime, my Tim Holtz Nature's Discoveries stamp set arrived a couple of weeks ago and I just had to put it to use on a card! I fell in love with this set while watching Tim demonstrate with it at the Carson stamp show last month. I used alcohol ink for the background, swiping the alcohol applicator horizontally across the glossy paper. I also added a dab of Perfect Pearls to the butterfly's wings for a little shimmer. The sentiment is stamped in Ranger distress mahogany and embossed. It was my first use of the mahogany, which is redder than I expected, but it still works.
Supplies:
Stamps: Nature's Discoveries, Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous
Ink: Memento Rich cocoa, Mahogany Distress, misc. blue for the butterfly
Paper: Old olive, tempting turquoise, glossy white
Accessories: alcohol inks, ribbon, embossing powder

The end of the dirty dares

This is the last of my Dirty Dare challenge cards for 2008! I combined two challenges in this card: Carole's color combination and Natasha's sketch. Carole's colors matched perfectly with this scrap of Daisy D designer paper I had in my stash, so the dots from the paper became my theme for the card. I masked the balloon from Birthday Whimsy to make the bouquet. My only trouble on this one was the fact that I only I had one small scrap of YoYo yellow paper! Guess I need to order a new assorted package of bold brights.
Supplies:
Stamps: Birthday whimsy, AYC
Ink: real red, yoyo yellow, brilliant blue
Paper: real red, yoyo yellow, brilliant blue, neenah classic crest solar white, Daisy D dp
Accessories: ticket punch, ribbon, eyelets, Cuttlebug

Stitching two ways

Only a couple more dirty cards for me to share, so I guess I better get stamping! On this one, I combined Lindsey's pink and black with faux stitching challenge with Julia's sewing challenge. I don't sew - at all! - so this was a real challenge for me. The real stitching is on the image - the bunny's ears and heart patch are stitched by hand with black thread. I just followed the lines in the image. For the faux stitching, I used some Daisy D's rub-on tape that looks like stitches. And of course, I used the pink and black color combo.
Supplies:
Stamps: Unknown bunny image
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics
Paper: pixie pink, pink passion, basic black, Neenah Classic Crest solar white
Accessories: ticket punch, primas, ribbon, rhinestone brads, Daisy D's rub-on tape

Fun folds with Euphoria

I have a few more dirty dare cards to share - I made 14 in all, and this isn't the end of them! Today's cards are non-traditional sizes. The first is a 6 by 3.25 check-sized card. I love this size, it is easier to work with than the larger long business envelope size. Amy challenged us to make this size card and use something clear on it. For my clear element, I chose a Heidi Swapp ghost flower - love them! But I didn't keep it plain, I inked it in some Colorbox pigment ink, dipped it in Iridescent Ice embossing powder, and embossed it for some color and sparkle. It's still see-through, but has a little more pizazz this way. Colors were inspired once again by the Basic Grey Euphoria paper, which I just can't get enough of!
Supplies:
Stamps: Fabulous Flowers
Ink: Pretty in pink, Colorbox orchid
Paper: Orchid, celery, cool Caribbean, Neenah classic crest solar white, pixie pink, Euphoria Basic Grey
Accessories: ribbon, Heidi Swapp ghost flower, embossing powder, rhinestone brad
The second of today's cards is a new fold for me - Rose Ann challenged us to make a flap card. This card is about 3.5 by 5 inches, and the celery base includes a curved flap. You can find a full tutorial by Rose Ann on SCS. I started with a gable green base, added some Euphoria paper and used my Nestabilities for the focal image.
Supplies:
Stamps: Simply said
Ink: Memento black, Copics
Paper: gable green, pretty in pink, Neenah classic crest white, Euphoria
Accessories: Ribbon, CM circle cutter (for flap), Nestabilities

CASE'd Silhouette

Between loads of laundry and rounds of Olympic swimming, I had time to play in the SCS Featured Stamper challenge today. The featured artist today was Kim/Blondie, who has a beautiful gallery. I used THIS CARD of hers for inspiration. I changed up the colors and decided to forgo the piercing. Instead, I added some photo corners using punches from the word window punch. To make the center block, I masked off the rest of the card using post-it notes, then sponged the center using soft sky and then bayou blue.
Supplies:
Stamps: Tim Holtz - Stampers Anonymous; A muse sentiment
Ink: soft sky, bayou blue, stazon black
Paper: soft sky, bayou blue, basic black, Neenah classic crest solar white
Accessories: ribbon, word window punch, post-it notes

A few more dirty dares

Sorry for the lack of posts the last few days! I think the Dirty Dares depleted my mojo - I haven't done much stamping the last week or so, and what I have done can't be shared just yet. Usually I try to get in some Friday night stamping, but last night I spent most of the night watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. I love watching the Olympics, especially the swimming, diving and gymnastics. In fact, I'm watching right now! I was stamping earlier, but couldn't miss the first finals in swimming!
Anyway, I do have a few more cards from the Dare to Get Dirty challenges that I haven't shared yet, so I figured I would post some more of them, at least until I get some more cards made! The first one is for Jenn Balcer's inspiration challenge. I used a piece of a KI Memories overlay for a striking black/white contrast, and the green ribbon for a punch of color. I also added a few Kaiser craft black rhinestones in the centers of the some of the overlay pieces, but you can't really see them in the photo.
Supplies:
Stamps: All Year Cheer (retired, SU)
Ink: Stazon black
Paper: Basic black, neenah classic crest white, gable green, KI Memories overlay
Accessories: ribbon, Kaiser Craft rhinestones
This card was for Jody's ribbon challenge. I had just picked up this cute paw print ribbon and used it as inspiration for my card. I stamped Willow from Rosie's Roadshow in a line across the card, then colored some of them in with my Copics.
Supplies:
Stamps: Rosie's Roadshow, One of a Kind
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics
Paper: Pumpkin pie, basic gray, basic black, neenah classic crest solar white
Accessories: Ribbon, stamp-a-ma-jig

Silly kitty

I snapped these photos of Eliot the other day, and figured since I haven't stamped much to share lately, I may as well share some silly kitty pictures here! I think I have discovered why my plants aren't doing very well! I'm not sure what Eliot was looking at, but she was sitting in the planter, between the impatient plant and another flower that is about dead. For some reason, she reminded me of those elephants at the circus that sit on those tiny barrels.
And the rear view! She is as big as the pot she's sitting on! She always finds ways to amuse me!

Coaster wall hanging

I decided it would be fun to make a little coaster wall hanging for my 3-year-old niece Sabrina's birthday. Sabrina is actually the daughter of one of my best friends, but she calls me Aunt Michelle and I spoil her like a good auntie should! With her name being so long, it was hard to photograph this. I tried one flat and one hanging, and a close-up shot. You can click any of the pictures for a little larger view.
This is a close-up of a couple of the letters. I used Making Memories designer paper that I've had for a couple of years and Making Memories glittery chipboard letters to match. I threaded organdy ribbon from each coaster, punching the holes with my Cropadile, and tied a bow between each one, alternating between plain and polka dot ribbons. Each coaster has some coordinating Primas, with either Dew Drops or rhinestone brads in the centers.
Supplies:
Paper: Making Memories DP
Accessories: Organdy ribbons, Primas, Dew Drops, rhinestone brads, Stickles (to glue the Dew Drops), glittery chipboard letters from Making Memories, chipboard coasters.