Life Is Beautiful...

Here is the card I, Joan, create for the "Limited Supply Challenge". I used the "Bloomin' Beautiful" stamp set which is available for sale TOMORROW! My colours are Sage Shadow, Brocade Blue, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White. With a Brocade marker I coloured only the flowers from the vase to create the background on the brocade paper (no background stamps were allowed). I stamped the flower image with StazOn since I was going to be using the blender pens to colour the flowers. I filled the centre of each flower with a dab from a white gel pen. I used the pastels to colour the flowers from the Pretties kit and used the marker to bring out their centres. Finally I took a saying from the Eastern Elegance Rub-Ons for on top of the Pretty in Pink Taffeta ribbon. Finally I used the Crafter's Tool kit to do the paper piercing in the left corner.

I am loving doing these challenges everyday again....I was obsessed about two years ago, some cards are still in my Splitcoast Gallery. It's fun and, like I say at school to my kids....it's gets the brain cells moving.

Musical Inspiration

Here are the two cards I created for todays "Ways to Use it" Challenge. The rules were to create a card which included music in some way: symbols, lyrics, titles. I decided to go with the lyrics. I'd wanted to use the little cup for a long while, and anyone who know me knows I love coffee....so the only coffee type song I know is Java Jive. I used to listen to Manhattan Transfer a lot...and now of course the song is in my head. My husband asked what occasion I would use this for....and then answered himself saying I could invite a friend for coffee with it.

I spotted the set with the bicycle in it and knew right away that I had to turn it into a bicycle built for two...especially since there are already daisies coming out of the basket. I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to get the images lined up to turn a two wheeler into a three wheeler.

I have a number of other music cards which are posted on Splitcoast, to see those and all the other fantastic entries for todays challenge click on this LINK

For Friday...the "Limited Supply Challenge" is to make a card using :
Stamps: one flower stamp (sentiment optional)
No designer paper
No Cuttlebug
No background stamps
Any embellishments
No Rub-ons ... except for sentiments

Music to my Ears....

Good Morning....I am super excited about todays challenge....It's "Ways to Use It" and the instructions are to "use music-type stamps, be inspired by a song, a title, a phrase in a song...let's see how music inspires you!"
I can't wait until after school.
Joan

Chalkboard Technique

Today I decided to try Beate's tutorial for the chalkboard technique. It seemed pretty easy, and actually was. However, I think I may try something smaller than a sponge dauber the next time I'm trying to colour a small image. I've also wanted to use my sticky letters for quite a while so tried to fit one in as the "cut out" image of the Sketch Challenge. It's funny how one card can almost make itself and others (such as this one...) need to be fiddled with and pondered over. Oh well.....

To follow Beate's tutorial click HERE

To see other cards which include the chalkboard technique click HERE

Also, thank you to all our stamin' friends who have signed our guest book after reading your newsletter. Amy and I are enjoying reading them. Thank you so much for your support....and thanks also to the blogging community we've joined up with.

Beady Sketch Challenge

This is what I came up with for today's sketch challenge. I've actually covered Monday's challenge too with the stripes and print paper. Scallops for the green paper were created by using the corner rounder punch. For the striped piece I used a piece of sticky strip and then I've actually got three different things attached...beads, microbeads and glitter to fill in the empty spots. For the central flower I finally...after many attempts at different things, ended up stringing the beads onto a wire and then curling it until it became 3-D.
It was fun to create.
To see other cards using this layout click HERE

Oh my word...... I am just so thrilled that I was able to figure out how to get the thumbnail from Splitcoast onto the blog....This is Wednesday's sketch challenge. I love it when they post them early. Piece number 4 is something that is cut out....doesn't have to be a star, just an image of some sort. I'm heading off to bed now, having met the final challenge of the day and I will post my creation tomorrow evening....after America's Next Top Model which is my Wednesday night date with my 16year old daughter. Perhaps I will dream up a card.......
Joan

Tuesday is Colour Challenge Day....and today's colours were Black, White and River Rock. When I read the combination I knew right away that I wanted to use my Elegant Notes set. I used En Francais for the background stamping black onto the River Rock. I cut individual strips of the black hemp twine and adhered them with sticky strip on the back so that they started together at the bottom and then spread out. The clefs and message are stamped on black with versa mark and embossed in white. Use the embossing buddy so you don't end up with little flecks.

To see samples of other cards using this colour combination click HERE

Monday Challenge

The challenge on Splitcoast on Mondays is always the Technique Lovers Challenge. Today you were to create a card (and you can take all week to do it) which included patterns which, if you are close to my age, you were taught should never be put together....polka dots and prints, stripes and prints, etc. Apparently, I am out of practice with these challenges, because the first card that evolved (the flower one) is.....not to my liking. (Nor my daughters!) I feel better about the second one.
To see some of the fantastic works of art by other stampers who met this challenge click Here

This past weeks colour challenge

I haven't done a Splitcoast colour challenge in literally years, but I've been on the website a lot lately and decided to try meeting the daily challenges again....as least as often as I can. This past week the colour challenge was Orchid Opulence, Pumpkin Pie and Certainly Celery. Definitely NOT colours I would autoatically put together, and that's what I love about the challenges, it gets you thinking outside your personal box. I saw the polkadotted fower idea in the splitcoast gallery and decided to try it. The words are a bit blurry here, but I used the rub-ons for the first time. Unfortunately, I didn't notice until the entire card was together that the flower has been attached by a garden critter....oh well.

I've seen this dress a couple of times on Splitcoast lately and thought I would share the invitation we sent out to our Club Members to help us celebrate our 2nd "Stampaversary". I simply love this dress and will NEVER get rid of this retired set. I coloured them differently, using only the richest of our colours, and then covered them with microbeads to make it even more glamorous.

Cards we'll make with the "Purse" Kit

These are the three cards that we'll be doing at the specialty workshop on March 19th. Only 4 places are left out of the maximum 8 available. This worshop costs $20.00 and MUST be paid for by March 1. Contact either Joan (froglady_jj@hotmail.com ) or Amy (amybarry@telus.net) if you are interested in attending. We will start at 6:30 and you'll be finished by 8:30.

March Specialty Workshop

Amy created this purse using the "Build a Flower" set. On March 19 Amy and I are doing a workshop where you will create this cute little purse and 3 cards using pieces from the set. This is a limited attendance workshop.....only 8 spaces are going to be available and you MUST register and pay by March 1. The cost will be $20.00 and we plan to be done in 2 hours. I've posted the purse today and will post the cards sometime this weekend..it's a busy one.....music workshop, card workshop...oh, and Riverdance on Sunday.

Fantastic Felt Flower Fusion

...I just love alliteration!!! Anyway, I literally threw this card together before I went to a band parents meeting tonight. I wanted to have something new for today and I wanted to use my felt flowers finally, for the first time. They are not necessarily the colours that I would put together, but it's fun to be forced outside the box. I also used a piece from the hodgepodge hardware and the rhinestone brads. Spring must be coming because I'm wanting to use more flowers. Hey, did ya catch the eclipse tonight??? Awesome!

Still more than just cards

Amy allowed me to include this little sweetheart in our blog. She created this clipboard with a favorite photo of her nephew. There are so many different creative ways that you can give photographs as gifts, or keep them especially for yourself.

It's not all about Cards!

Amy created this fantastic pictures which now hang in her basement where we hold our workshops. Each of them is so unique, with it's own personality. For the "Celebrate" frame she used pieces from the "Build a Flower" kit - watch for a limited attendance workshop in March using this kit in another way. I love the playfulness of the "Fun" picture...the Zoofari stamp set has so much potential! Finally, I seriously love the "Embrace Life" frame. The flowers are perfect... All three of these would be perfect gifts for you to create and give to friends and family.....or keep for yourself.

Awesome Glitter

I haven't posted anything the last two days because of our All Occasion Card Camp....all three sittings were great, it was good to see people we haven't stamped with for a while, and great to meet new people too.
Patty G. took home a Simply Scrappin' Kit and Angie C. each took home a stamp set because they won the draw for having paid for the workshop ahead of time. Congratulations!!
The card I've posted here is one I put together yesterday morning before the camp. I wanted to try out one of the new sets from the upcoming Occasions Mini (I LOVE that the stamps are all die-cut and you just have to pop them out to mount them!!!). I am also loving the new chunky glitter!!

All Occasion Card Camp - Two Years Ago

Happy Valentines Day to everyone. I know my students went home all sugared up today...my apologies to their parents. Amy and I are getting the last things ready for our All Occasion Card camp this weekend. I was just looking back at our old cards and came across this grouping of the cards we did for our first AOCC in 2006. I miss that bubblegum machine and the leaves!!! We look forward to stamping with you this weekend...our third Annual All Occasion Card Camp.

Hostess Promotion

When you host a workshop from March 18 until April 30 and have sales of $450 or more, you will earn an EXTRA $35.00 in hostess benefits!

Things to Remember:

• Customer, hostess, and workshop order types qualify for this promotion.
• Qualifying orders must be at least $450 before tax and shipping.
• Workshops totaling more than $450 are not eligible for additional hostess awards but do qualify for the $35.00.
  
• Hostesses can use their additional $35 in hostess awards on any regular catalogue/mini-catalogue merchandise.
• Qualifying orders must be placed by Wednesday, April 30, 2008.

Check out our calendar of events to see if there is a date that works for you.

Musical Thank You's

Wondering if the snow will ever stop and wondering if we'll actually be taking a field trip tomorrow to the Winspear Centre to see the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. I've made these thank you cards up for our parent volunteers...they will get used whether it is tomorrow or not. I even got a "those are pretty" from the 16 year old daughter....so that made me happy. Look within your stamp sets to see if you have a set where you can set a darker image on top of a lighter one.

Anniversary Gala

On February 2 we had a wonderful time celebrating our 2nd Anniversary as demonstrators. A handful of our club members were in attendance in their formal wear to stamp one card, enjoy wine (or pretend wine) and cheese, and a chocolate fountain. Amy & I were especially excited about giving out bags of goodies which included one free stamp set and some sort of Stampin'Up! accessory or supplies. Thanks again to everyone, whether you were able to attend that night or not, for helping us to build our business.... "loving what we do and sharing what we love."

Sketch Idea

It's ended up being a very lazy day......
Amy & Joan thought we'd start adding some sketch ideas for those of you who have purchased a whole whack of supplies and sometimes don't know what to do or where to get started....So here's a challenge for those of you who are coming to the All Occasion Card Camp this coming weekend.
Use any stamp set you have and the sketch above to create a card. Bring it with you to the Camp to display and possibly win a prize.

Do You Have the Luck O' the Irish?

Here are the different things you can do to get your name put into a draw to win this basket of Stampin'Up! goodies on March 17th....

• Get one draw slip entered for every $70.00 of Stampin'Up! merchandise you order from now until March 17th. Remember, you also get to choose a free Sale-A-Bration item when you do this too. (Orders MUST be received and paid for by the 17th)

• Get one draw slip when you join a Stamper's 9 Club
  
• Purchase a minimum $25.00 (+GST and S&H) each month for 9 months.
• Receive a FREE Spring/Summer Collection
• Receive a guaranteed minimum Level 1 Hostess set and $20 in FREE merchandise as hostess benefits one of the nine months.
• Receive a FREE gift from AJCreations
• Build your stamping supplies monthly on a budget.

• Get one draw slip when you join a Marker Club: Pay $50.77 (plus S&H and GST) for 4 months and accumulate:
• all 48 markers from the four colour families
• the handy marker storage case
• 6 In Colour Stamp Pads
• 4 Neutral Markers (Sahara Sand, Going Gray, Black, Basic Gray)
• a level 1 hostess stamp set
• a minimum of $20 in FREE merchandise

• Get an ADDITIONAL draw slip when you encourage one of your friends to join one of our clubs. (They will get a draw slip, and so will you).

• Get one draw slip when you make the decision to purchase the Stampin'Up! Starter Kit.
• This kit is 20% off during Sale-A-Bration.
  
• Pick an extra stamp set from the Spring-Summer Collection for free (with a value up to $60.95)
  

Good Luck To All!

Valentine's Day is coming up quickly

Don't forget that Valentine's Day is coming up this week....we did these cute little packages in January. You can create these to give to friends, family, students, etc. Don't forget the glitter....it just glitzes it up.

Trial Run....

Well, here's to experimentation......
We've developed a blog in hopes of being able to keep our customers, friends and family, updated with the ideas we get and to see what your response is. We're also thinking that it may be a bit easier, allowing you to go to the blog whenever you like, instead of us sending out a plethora of e-mails and newsletters. (Although we reserve the right to still do this.:)) We encourage you to stay posted to our website for dates of events, times, places....
Here's hoping this is successful...it's a work in progress.

Any Variety of Greetings for All Occasion Card Camp

This card, which Joan is demonstrating, uses the Tagger's Dozen set so those attending our All Occasion card camp will be able to select the type of greeting which they want to put on the front. You just won't be able to take too long making your decision since time at this camp... "of the essense". (Where did that saying come from?)

Many Thanks - for All Occasion Card Camp

Amy is demonstrating this card using another one of the Sale-a-Bration sets. Remember, when you make a $70.00 purchase through until March 17 you can select a free Sale-a-Bration product. We did this card at a recent stamping event, but Amy has changed it up a bit. One of the bonuses of creating your own greeting cards.

Get Well....or your choice of greeting-for All Occasion Card Camp

When Joan demonstrates this card at the All Occasion Card Camp, you won't necessarily have to make it into a Get Well card if you don't want to. The Sincere Salutations stamp set will be available for you to customize your card to the occasion which works best for you.

Blank for any Occasion at the All Occasion Card Camp

Joan is demonstrating this card at the All Occasion Card Camp....once again, we're taking advantage of the double sided scrap book paper to allow those of you who attend to customize your card to your liking. Also, this card has no specific message so it can easily be used any time during the year for either a male or female recipient.

Happy Birthday for the All Occasion Card Camp

This card, which Amy is demonstrating for our All Occasion Card Camp, is using one of the Sale-a-Bration sets. We are using a whole whack of punches during the camp, which is why we're offering them for 20% off this month....as long as the orders and payments are made by the 16th.

Baby Card for the All Occasion Card Camp

This is one of the cards that Amy will be demonstrating at our All Occasion Card Camp Feb 15 and 16. I love the colours and the fact that you 'll be able to select your choice of double sided scrapbook paper.