Transparent

Here is one of the final cards from last weekend's Virtual Stamp night. We had to make a transparent card....I'd never made one of those before. The card base is a transparency. I embossed the dragonflies onto a patterned piece of velum and then coloured them with markers; attaching it with gluedots in the corners. I suppose when I use this I'll have to keep the message paper the same size as the dragonflies in order to keep the transparent effect.

I may not make another posting until Sunday/Monday. I am organizing volunteers for a Young Authors Conference tomorrow and have to set things up tonight. Plus, tonight is the Nylons concert - Woooohoooo can't wait!

Have a great day - stay warm
Thanks for dropping by - JOAN

Perk Up

I liked that rubberband technique so much from Monday that I tried it again using the colours from the Colour Throw Down - Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Kiwi Kiss. The sketch is from this week's Splitcoast sketch challenge. Also........the challenge on Stamp Something last week was to include tags on the card......so there you go - three challenges in one.




Here is another VSN challenge which was to use inchies on your card. The Holiday Blitz set is perfect for this. I used the spritzer tool to make the background with all of the rainbow colours.

I'm looking forward to going to the Nylons concert this weekend. I'm lucky enough that they're actually singing here in Fort Saskatchewan!!!!!! Yipee. Two more sleeps......am I dating myself?
Have a great day -
JOAN

Summer Pumpkin Garden

Today's colour challenge was Kiwi Kiss (I think I'm going to have to buy another package of this paper!!!), Summer Sun and Pumpkin Pie. I used the Echoes of Kindness flowers to create the garden and then added grass with the Inspired by Nature grass. I would have added some blue for the sky, but didn't because it wasn't part of the challenge colours. I've also started leaving some of my cards without a sentiment so that I can add it at a later date.



Here is another VSN challenge card....only 4 more to show you after this one. The challenge was to show what you have an obsession about. Hmmm....how do you narrow that down??? I picked coffee (never thought I'd drink as much of it as my Dad did!). I also have an obsession right now with the Raspberry Tart paper. Two other stamping obsessions are my use of brads and dimensionals!!!!

Hope everyone is staying warm and dealing with any snow that may be falling in their area.....we are suppose to get more tomorrow.....sheeeeesh!!!! Thanks for stopping by - JOAN

Rubberbands Snap

Today's technique Challenge on Splitcoast was the Rubberband Technique. It was great fun!!! I suppose I should have put my leaves on a completely solid colour because they're melding into the rubberband background....I also think that next time I'll do this technique on glossy paper because the colours will be a bit bolder. Live and learn. I'm copying the instructions for this technique from Lynn's challenge because there was no tutorial link for it.

What you will need:
A wood or acrylic block
Embossing ink (embossing powder is optional)
Cardstock
Inks
Sponge or daubers

• First you wrap several rubber bands around your block, criss-crossing them in various directions.
• Next, take your rubber-banded block and ink up the rubber bands with your embossing ink (I used Versamark) and stamp onto your cardstock. I went in several different directions until I had filled the cardstock with the impressions.
• Now you can either let your embossing ink dry, or if you prefer, you can apply embossing powder and heat emboss.
• Lastly, apply your ink using your sponges or daubers to add color to the cardstock. The embossing ink, or embossed images will resist the ink, leaving your with a unique design.

My second card, using the same Lexicon of Leaves set, is from the VSN weekend - the challenge was to make a card that a man would/could make and send to someone. I coloured the leaf with versa mark pen with Night of Navy Ink. I do like these leaves and the oak leaf isn't too bad to cut away from it's original image.

I think I'm into leaves right now because it's snowing again here. Oh how I long for the buds to appear on the trees and
uncurl into greeness!!!!!

I'm off to watch a video on Strauss....got to make sure it's up to par for my music classes.

Thanks for stopping by,
JOAN

More VSN cards

I can only load five cards at a time so I'll be sharing VSN cards for a while! I made 12 yesterday in 12 hours - today I have a migraine - go figure!!!!

This first shell card was done with the melting crayon technique. Too cool - (I've given you the tutorial link) It was fun to do and easy to figure out in the time limit. I have a band of microbeads across the top, trying to be sand ...




This bee card is a case from one I got from my upline - Lori. There are holes punched along the side and the little bees are inside the card. The challenge was to make a card for someone you loved.




This is not a favorite of mine. We had to use only things that began with the letter L - for Love. So I used Lavender Lace and Lovely Lilac. I added a "lacey" border and used "letters" to make the message for the cup of "latte". I wish I had L embellishments.

This flower card was using the "Joy Fold". It's easy to do with Beate's Tutorial. I used one of the current Sale-a-Bration sets and used some Non-SU gems in the centre of the flowers.



For this challenge we had to find a stamp/set that was one of our first purchases. I've had this stamp for years and was glad to be able to bring it out for a spin. I added a strip of sticky strips with red beads along the bottom.

That's all I'll share today.
Thanks for stopping by - JOAN

My First VSN - Wooo Hooo

Wow, I have NEVER made so many cards in so little time. I'm having fun with my very first Virtual Stamping Night - a different challenge every hour and on honour system of the card being completed in 45 minutes and then posted.

The theme is "What does Love Have to do with It?" There's lots of Chocolate and love going around!

I only did 6 of the 7 challenges tonight because I missed the first one driving home from school - I was in the door and stamping immediately - LOL



The Angel card fits a colour challenge - I picked Dark Chocolate which was Apricot Appeal, Chocolate Chip and Cameo Coral. I love how the Tombow Glue makes her halo stick out and look fluffy.


Next we were to find a stamp set we did not like and create a card with it. We got this Wanted set in Denver at Convention - Not one I'd pick for myself!!!


Next we had to use some of our new stuff. I had to pick from a couple of stamp sets, and also used the eyelet border punch for the 2nd time.













The 5th challenge of the night was to create a monochromatic card. I stamped the flowers from "Inspired by Nature" onto Not Quite Navy paper with Versa Mark and embossed with clear powder - then cut the image out and attached it to the Belle Bleu paper.





I used the Music Expressions image for the Split Negative technique challenge.










While working on my final card for the night I discovered that I do not have one single stamp set with the single word LOVE in it. I find that a bit bizzare and will have to rectify that situation.
For this final challenge we had to pick a quote from the movie "The Princess Bride". I selected "You have a great gift of rhyme." That made me think of nursery rhymes and Little Bo Peep, Little Boy Blue and Baa Baa Black Sheep - so here are three sheep, three hearts and a whole lot of pink!!!!


I'm off to bed because I have to be at the airport tomorrow at 7:30 am to pick up my daughter from her trip to Mexico. I will be warning her in the car that I will be needing the computer all afternoon and evening because I'll be starting on the second VSN phase at noon. We'll see how soon it is before I crash!!!!!

Thanks for dropping by
JOAN

Different Idea

We made a card similar to this at a recent Team Stamping Event (Yeah Tamye & Lori).

Using the Big Shot you create a fold in the Top Note by not lining it up right to the edge of the cut. It does make it a bit difficult to stand up, but it's a different idea.

Hope all is well your way.
Happy Stampin' - JOAN

Oh My Word - this doesn't cover ANY challenge. LOL!!!

Spotlight on Music

Yesterday's Splitcoast Colour Challenge was More Mustard, Rose Red and Kiwi Kiss.
When I was jumping around blogs the other day I spotted a card on Dawn's blog (Treasure Oiler Designz) that reminded me about the spotlight technique.....so I decided I would try it with this stamp. Not too bad I suppose.

I'm off to "plot" with Amy this evening, so thanks for stopping by and I hope you are having a great hump day.

JOAN

Bella Bleu

Good Morning...

The thumb nail shows the sketch challenge this week over at Our Creative Corner. I thought it was very fancy looking so decided to use the fancy Bella Bleu paper....I am loving this paper!

Thanks for stopping by - Hope you have a great day. JOAN

Easy Gift Box

Today's Technique Challenge on Splitcoast was to create this cute little Round Top Box. The pattern was very easy. However, I had a dickens of a time decorating it. This is WAY to busy for me and I don't really do pink. I shouldn't have put the floral piece on the back of the box...it made it difficult to add the flowers. I'll approach it differently next time I make one. You should take a look at the Splitcoast Gallery to see what everyone else has done with this design - they're great!

Hope you're having a great day - thanks for stopping by. JOAN

Font Flowers

This card is created with Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. I also incorporated an old Colour Challenge that I hadn't done yet. Wow these colours are....colourful! (Tempting Turquoise, Lovely Lilac, Gable Green and Pink Passion) I'm sorry that the glitter on the flowers didn't show up very well.

I've also chosen to not put a sentiment on it so that I can use it for any occasion...when that occasion arises. There is plenty of room to stamp a greeting on at a later date.

I hope everyone who has a holiday tomorrow enjoys it - whether it's Family Day or President's Day.
Thanks for dropping by - JOAN

Umbrella

This card incorporates the a Sketch Challenge and Colour Challenge. The colours are Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette, and Perfect Plum. I haven't used Plum in ages!!! I'm trying to use some of my new stamp sets and couldn't find one that fit into the fourth layer of this mold - so again I cut out the image instead. The dew drops are from a Divine Secret Sister on Splitcoast a couple of Rounds back. You can't tell, but the main portion of the umbrella is put on with dimensionals

Raspberry Glitter

Here is a card for this past week's Sketch Challenge. I played outside the box though by not including the fourth layer as a square - instead I used the cut out flower. I so love this Raspberry Tart paper! I used Rose Red and Regal Rose paper and markers with the Kiwi Kiss. For the central dots of the flower I used the Tombow Glue (it "dots" so well!!!!) and added the Rose Pink glitter from the Cosmo Glitter set from SU. The buttons are from Fresh Favorites II. I'm going to have to leave this paper alone for a while and delve into my other packages.

Thanks for stopping by - JOAN

Today's Inspiration Challenge came from the "Artfull Bras Project" Wow - what fantastic creations!!!! You've gotta take a look. I had a hard time choosing - picked three and my card merged around this creation which is titled "Boobs in Bloom" by Jean Mandeville.

I had wanted to try this Musical Expressions stamp with crayon resist, but discovered that it doesn't work all that well for accenting - I'll have to play around a bit more. And, I finally used my new Eyelet Border Punch.

Hope everyone is having a fine Valentine's Day. Thanks for stopping by - JOAN

Chocolate Music

Today's challenge over at "Stamp Something" is to use Chocolate in your card. Oh, how I'd love a chocolate card - however, lacking the chunky stuff I used Chocolate Chip cardstock and designer series paper for this card. I still had some gold cording so created my musical staff....and wow, I just love, love, love our new large brads!!!!!!!

Hope you're having a wonderful day - and thanks for dropping by. JOAN

Cut Raspberry

This past Monday's Technique Challenge was to incorporate something that has been cut into the card. Well, I absolutely love this new Raspberry Tart paper and decided this big "flower" would work well. On the paper there are dots beside the image, so I used the small punch and brads to copy that. I also decided I needed to use up some more of my rub-ons; so this card has absolutely no stamping.

Thanks for stopping by. JOAN