Virtual Stamp Night - Let the Games Begin

Well, I spent Saturday Night on Splitcoast Stampers doing their Mini Virtual Stamp Night with the theme having to do with the upcoming Olympics. I hadn't done a VSN since spring of last year - it felt good to have the juices forced to create something in less than an hour for each challenge.

The first card, with the Maple Leaves, had to do with the parade at the Opening Ceremonies. We were to pick our favorite flag colours and create a card - well - I had to pick Canada just 'cause! To add a bit of zip though I created a small Olympic Inukshuk.
The second challenge was to "Chill Out" and to create something with a bit of ice or snow on it - using "flower soft" for snow or clear embossing powder. I don't have any flower soft - so I used the clear embossing powder on the little ice rink and then added liquid applique around the edges where Little Teddy has had to shovel off the snow. I cut her leg so that I could angle it into an arabesque - which she is executing without the aid of actual skates!

The Red Mittens which the Olympic Torch Runners are
wearing - and which have been available for purchase - was the theme of the third challenge. I remembered making this mitten for a workshop years ago, so dug out my sample and re-did it in red with a white embossed Maple Leaf. I tucked in a package of hot chocolate because the original project had been used as a "treat" bag of sorts.




Challenge #4 was to use the Chalkboard Technique - it's a two step technique in honor of the Olympic Biatholon. Here is a link to a fabulous tutorial by Beate Jahns. I had actually done this technique before so was able to jump right into it. I did FINALLY figure out how to use my corner punch properly! I am so used to holding my punches "upside down" that I was never succeeding in punching my corners - so I tried flipping the punch - saw the guidelines and viola - duh!!!!

Finally, our challenge was to keep in mind the "S" curves of the Slalom Course the the Olympics as well as using the Kissing Technique. I don't have any background stamps that are good for this technique anymore; so I used the variation which Beate suggests on her tutorial. I hadn't used glitter all evening, so I decided to add just a tiny bit in each of the panels.


Sunday will bring rest and paper cutting for my workshop on Tuesday.....and a few more puzzle pieces.

Hope your weekend has been wonderful - Thanks for dropping by

Sugar Creek Hollow Preview

I am so excited to be able to share this card with you today!!! The Sugar Creek Hollow Design Team and I have been working hard behind the scene creating cards to share with you for the Grand Opening. We couldn't resist holding back!! We want to share with you just a preview of what is to come.

I love this little birdie image! When I was colouring her, I began with a base of Barely Banana and then started adding speckles with Crushed Curry, Summer Sun and So Saffron. I used a sponge dauber to gently create her background.

Want to earn this digi for FREE? Become a Sugar Creek Hollow Follower. Be the 150th or 200th follower and you will receive a FREE digi of your choice!!!
Deadline is February 7th at 10pm eastern time. The winner will be announced on
February 8th Preview Week!


Please visit the rest of our lovely team by clicking on their links listed here:

Design Team Coordinator: Joseline http://stampinwithsimplicity.blogspot.com/

Kristina http://reflectionsofahappycrafter.blogspot.com/
Cheri http://thepaperfreak.blogspot.com/
Cassandra http://www.altered-for-him.blogspot.com/
Cassie http://fortheartofit.blogspot.com/
Joan (Me) http://j-jcreations.blogspot.com/
Stephanie http://stephaniesstampinspot.blogspot.com//
Marsha http://stampingdownsouth.blogspot.com/
Dani http://countyourbeautifulblessings.blogspot.com/
Suzi http://mrsweyremaster.blogspot.com/
Loretta http://lovetocreate.blogspot.com/
Donna http://myartisticrelease.blogspot.com/
Sarah http://creationsbysarah.blogspot.com/
Tracy http://primitivepaper.blogspot.com/

Guest Designers
Kelly http://sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/
Linda http://thefunkiejunkie.blogspot.com/

Have a Wonderful Saturday -

I Heart Butterflies and Milk

Weird title....I know.....but I'm posting three different projects.

The first two are cards which I made at the Extravaganza a couple of weeks ago and have decided to use for my February Technique Workshop - along with the Patchwork card I post on January 5. All three cards will be using dies for the Big Shot, and because of that they are all going to be Easy, Breezy, Lemon Squeezy!!!!!

I simply love all of those little butterflies fluttering around and I like the "classiness" of the silver and black hearts for Valentines.

The third project is posted for today's Limited
Supply Challenge at Splitcoast. We were to make
a 3-D item - specifically a milk carton. Well, I must be honest and say, that this little carton was also made at the Extravaganza. So...I haven't actually stamped anything new today - YET!!!

I plan to watch "This is It" with my daughter while dividing up all the little extra letters I have that are left over from previous projects - putting them into little individual letter boxes.....(Yes, I have a problem that way). I've already put 25 pieces into my 2000 piece puzzle today - and expect to put in a few more before the day is done. AND>>>>>I plan to make some cards with my new digital images from Sugar Creek Hollow.
CAN'T WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING..dun, dun, duuuuuuu

Have a wonderful afternoon!

Snowy Bear

Well.....we've moved away from hearts and pinks and moved back to snow. That's okay - it's still the last week of January.

This little bear comes as a freebie this past week over at Delightful Inspiration. I really liked her - sitting waiting to go skating with her friends; watching the snow float down.

The sketch I used, from Our Creative Corner (shown below), has a heart as the central feature - but I made my theme the little bear and "strategically" positioned the snowflakes in a heart-ish shape.







The colours are from Colour Throwdown
I may just use these colours again this week because I like them together and the only Celery I used in this card was the ribbon coming down.

I added Dazzling Diamonds to the little snowflakes in the image and for the snow she is sitting on. I just love how the camera catches the sparkle!

I hope you are having a sparkling day - thanks for dropping by -

Totally Pink

Wow - I really have to say that pink is not one of my most favorite colours - but when the colour challenge says to use it - ya do. I just realized how washed out this photo ended up. (sigh)
The colours for yesterday's challenge were - Pretty in Pink, Mambo Melon and Blush Blossom. The only bit of blush I used was the second heart. I'm also disappointed that the words didn't show up as well on the photo as they do in real life. I was actually surprised - I stamped the Mambo Melon first and strategically placed it on the die to be put through the Big Shot. Amazingly, I didn't cut off any of the words.
I've included Pretty in Pink Ribbon on either side of the Mambo Melon polka dot ribbon.

The sketch is from Today's Sketch challenge. When I originally did the challenge I looked at it in black and white. I now notice that there is a 3a and 3b - oooops. Oh well. Pays to read instructions carefully!!!

Hope all is well your way - thanks for stopping by!

Hearts & Bling

Saturday's Inspiration Challenge came from "Echo Design". They had a number of really cool clothing items. I picked the scarf that you see to the right of my card. I loved the colours - I'm an earthy sort of girl. It took a bit of time to decide what stamp set I would use but I settled on Garden from the Heart. I think I like this set so much because the sun hat reminds me of my Grandma and how she loved to be in her gardens. I finally got the scalloped hearts this week - They are just so cool!!!!!!

My second card is for Monday's Clean and Simple Challenge - the challenge was to use designer series paper on a CAS card. I decided to use the Kaleidsocope paper because I think it's so funky!! The sparkle die was used to punch out
three pieces with the Big Shot. To get the "simple" bling in the center of each sparkle I removed it from the "brad" so it wasn't so bulky on the card.
The sketch for this card comes from Our Creative Corner. Pop over there to see the other fabulous creations with this sketch

Well, that's all for today. Hope life is treating you well in your part of the world.

Extravaganza Cards

Here are two more cards from the Extravaganza I was at a couple of weeks ago. I really like the Vintage Vogue stamp set. I had been trouble designing something with the "friend" stamp - but I like how this turned out.

I love the designer paper that Stampin' Up! has right now with the glitter on one side and plain on the other. It adds that bit of bling to a card without you walking away with scads of glitter on yourself. (I accidentally dumped my glitter tray this afternoon - not a happy camper!!!)

I hope all of you had a marvelous Monday. Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Puppy Love

Good Morning
I just quickly wanted to post this card before going to school. I created it on Friday night....had a card camp all day Saturday....and then ended up with the flu yesterday. So I'm moving a bit slowly today.

I hope to get some more stamping done this afternoon - after I clean up my card camp stuff. We had a lot of fun - and that's what counts.

This image is the freebie from last week at Delightful Inspiration. They're a cute puppy pair.

Well, off to work, have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

Shell Game

I'm not exactly sure that this turned out the way I wanted it to. I was working with Thursday's Ways to use It Challenge which was to cut out an image for the card - done. I knew I wanted to use this turtle and I knew I wanted to use the sketch from CCEE Stampers. I guess I've done all the things I knew I wanted to do......but I also know it didn't turn out the way I planned/wanted. I'll have to rethink it. There's just some sort of spice that's missing. But, in the meantime.....it can be used as a masculine card when needed!

Hope your daily plans are being fulfilled.
I'm cutting/preparing for a Birthday Card Camp this Saturday. I'm also working with the new images I received from Sugar Creek Hollow in preparation for the Grand Opening on March 1. Don't forget to go over there and become a follower so you can have a chance to win a $50.00 gift certificate.

Since it's late Thursday night - I hope you have a fabulous Friday!!!

Old Mambo Music

Wonderful Wednesday -

I think sketch challenges and colour challenges are my most favorite. I don't mind being challenged to use different things, or try a new technique....but a sketch or colour challenge gives me a base to start with - and then I feel a bit better. Of course there are always those cards or projects which have a mind of their own - but that's always a different story.

Today is the sketch challenge day on Splitcoast Stampers and I took my colours from the colour throwdown #76 over at Stamp Happy.....So Saffron, Melon Mambo and Old Olive. The stamped piece is a left over from the Christmas Thank You cards I made for some of my kids at school. Ya just can't throw those bits and pieces away!

Hope you had a wonderful day - we're closer to the weekend than we were yesterday! Thanks for stopping by,

Life Quickly Embraced

I completely forgot about the Clean and Simple challenge on Monday's on Splitcoast. This week's challenge was to make a card with only Teal and White (and one other colour). I absolutely LOVE teal!!! Usually my combo is black, white and a touch of teal.....no black today.

I also decided to use Embrace Life, a stamp set I haven't touched in a VERY long time. I decided to add the extra tiny bit of pink with the butterflies, ribbon and brad.

Done quickly because we're soon heading out the door to the theatre. Lacheim - Embrace It!




ps - I just got my new digital stamps from Sugar Creek Hollow - and I CAN'T wait to use them. Woo Hoo.......Excitement is rising.

Explore

I worked on this page Monday night because I wanted to have something new to post Tuesday - (I'm scheduling this to come on line at 1:00am)....I may not have time later to stamp.

Anyway, this sketch is from SCS Friday Scrapbook Sketch Challenge. I haven't done many of them, but have decided that I want to try so I can get more of my kids' pages done. With their ages at 21 and 18.......I have a lot of old work to do. However, I have a bit more time to do it in, so I guess that evens it out. I didn't keep the photos the way they are in the sketch.
I used an old Simply Scrappin' Kit....I've bought whatever ones were available for boys and girls in anticipation of using them
for Grant and Allison's books. I cut letters from different dies for the Big Shot and placed them on die-cut stickers that came with the kit.

I MAY be able to do Tuesday's colour challenge after school, but we have tickets to see "Fiddler on the Roof" in Edmonton. I CAN'T wait. I saw it live when I was in my teens and living in Chicago. I had the privilege of having a FANTASTIC music teacher in Jr. High, who taught us the songs and then took us on a field trip to see it. (The other production she took us to was Godspell) My father also took me to see it, so the music is ingrained in me. Topol was scheduled to play Tevye, however he did something to his shoulder and is no longer in this run. It would have been his final performances. That would have been toooooo cool! The replacement has played the part over 200 times, so I guess he'll probably be okay. :)

I hope you have something to look forward to in your day, no matter where you are. Remember to stop to notice the beauty around you and thanks for taking a bit of time to stop by for a visit.

Music and Cupcakes

Yesterday was an extremely busy day, but I did manage to get two cards created in the evening.

The Musical card is for the Featured Stamper challenge yesterday - the stamper was jdmommy - Anne. She has a great gallery and it was hard to make a selection until I came across the card in the thumbnail. I knew I had to use it. So, I pulled out my set and changed it up a bit. I'm going to begin planning a "Music Lover's Card Camp" in the next month or two and think I may use this one. I want all of the cards to have a music theme and stampers can add different greetings as needed.
This cupcake is a digital image is from Delightful Inspiration. What a yummy cupcake! I used a metallic pen around the edges of the plate, but you can't really tell. The microbeads along the side are stuck to "sticky strip" - duh! and I glistened up the cherries with Chrystal Effects.

I'm off to school - Hope you have a wonderful Monday.
Thanks for stopping by.

Hearts & Snow

Well, I'm a little surprised that my heat gun hasn't fried because I sure did use it a lot this morning.

My first card is for today's inspiration challenge from the Accents section of Nell Hill's. I picked the little "love" piece, which is in the thumbnail, because it reminded me of the faux metal technique which I really do enjoy. I incorporated Our Creative Corner's Colour Combo Challenge which was to use blue's and greens of any hue.....I used Night of Navy and Taken with Teal.
To create the reverse embossed hearts I smeared versa mark onto a small section of paper, applied embossing powder and melted it. I repeated this process two more
times so that I had a section of embossed gold that was 3 "layers" thick. The last time I heated the piece I made sure that the heart was ready with Versa Mark on it and I quickly pressed it into the melted embossed section. I then decided to add a contrasting heart in the middle. Here is a link to the fantastic step by step instructions for this technique by Beate Johns.

The adorable little snowman was drawn by Tracy Vinson's 8 year old neice. Tracy is the Owner and Designer of Sugar Creek Hollow Digital Images and Primitive Paper and asked the design team to use this image today. I knew right away that I wanted to cut up his sections and make him stick out from the paper. I guess I didn't really have to cut them all up - but it was more realistic in my mind. The middle section has actually been raised twice. I covered him with Dazzling Diamonds and added seed beads for his eyes and mouth. The colours are in answer to "Stamp Something's" colour combo of blue and white.

It's now time I got down to some other sort of work. I should clean the house a bit, and I need to start cutting paper for an upcoming Birthday Card Camp. My husband and I have a Christmas Dinner tonight for the Josephburg Choral Society......then the season will be over.

Have a great Saturday and thanks for dropping by,

Past and Present...(and Future)

PAST - I delved into some of my old stash to come up with these owls I had never used. They are fitting into today's "Ways to Use It" challenge - which was to add birds to your card. I also started out using this week's sketch challenge, but the card sort of re-designed itself along the way. You can't see the words in the small scallop oval - they're a rub-on and say "thinking of you". I thought it was appropriate with the way that the owls' eyes were going.

PRESENT - I used all current product for the second card - AND I kept to the sketch challenge for this week. The colours were taken from the Colour Throw Down - they're Mellow Moss, Garden Green and Rich Razzleberry.

I have been totally inspired by Theresa Momber over at Crafting the Web. What she does to the edges of her cardstock is simply amazing. I've taken a step away from using ONLY the ink which matches the cardstock and over the past couple of days have even used two colours along the same edge. Today her card has been air-brushed and she gives all the steps for colouring her central image and doing the airbrushing. Take a visit over there - I don't think you'll be disappointed!!!
FUTURE....Vancouver - next month....I downloaded two of the pictures I took yesterday of the Olympic flame. I was enthralled by how it went down the "carrier" looking as though it enveloped the whole top section. Our students were very very lucky today because one of our teachers knew one of the torch bearers who ran through town yesterday. She came to our school, with her torch, and the kids were able to touch it and ask questions. All of the "flame" elements had been taken out, but it was very cool to see.

Well, I'm off to visit some sites, eat supper and then try and get a few more pieces into that (stupid) 2000 piece candy cane puzzle I'm STILL working on. I WILL NOT GIVE UP!!!!!!!!! :)

Thanks for dropping by