Betcha didn't know I was WICKED!

Heh heh heh... I was thrilled and honoured to be chosen as February's hostess for SCS' demo-only WICKED challenges! These monthly challenges are meant to expand demos' creative potential and get their gears going, with a set of three challenges that are entirely up to the hostess to decide.

The three challenges I chose were,

1) A Colour challenge - Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip;

2) A Techniques challenge - polished stone; and

3) A not-sure-what-to-call-it challenge - LOL to make a set of four cards that, while different, all are obviously part of the same 'collection'. For instance, using the same stamp set, same colour scheme, same DP (as with my samples), but each with an individual design.

I am also awarding bonus (virtual) points for making all submitted projects Valentines! :)

Unfortunately, the challenge and gallery are only accessible to demos - but hey, this is your lucky month!! As part of Sale-a-Bration, you can purchase the starter kit at a 15% discount PLUS receive an extra stamp set of your choice (worth up to $56.95), FREE!! (Yeah, okay, couldn't resist inserting that lil' promotional plug... ;o) )

So without further ado, here are the samples I made for the WICKED challenge:

Happy Stampin'!

A-M

Boxing Day = NO MORE CHRISTMAS CARDS!!

At least not until September or so ;o)

This is for today's Limited Supplies challenge, which was basically to make a non-holiday card LOL! I used the Upsy Daisy stamp set, and the Urban Garden DP, with a colour scheme of Basic Gray and Baja Breeze. I really really really like this DP. I find it very inspiring.

I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable Christmas/Hanukah! It was just us 5 this year, with my parents driving out for dinner yesterday. They are going back tomorrow, and hopefully taking most of our children back with them :o) We will join them for New Year's Eve (I have to work Monday and Tuesday - boohoo!!) I have been playing Rock Band with my boys for pretty much the last two days LOL! We're having a great time. When we're not fighting over who gets to play the drums, that is ;o)

Happy Stampin'!

A-M

Girlie, girlie, girlie

OK guess I'm in a girlie mood these days LOL! I blame it on all that yummy pink DP from the soon-to-be-released Candy Lane collection from SU! This card is for today's Sketch Challenge. I used a Stampotique image that I stamped at my friend Vicki Garrett's retreat last spring. She's a designer for this company and had just gotten some new stamps to play with. I loved these little goth girls, so I stamped a whole bunch :o) I used a blender pen and some Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette and Close to Cocoa ink to colour her in, to coordinate with the DP. And I finally ripped open that package of Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon I just received a couple of weeks ago. Isn't she cute?

Oh and I should tell you, I managed to STAY AWAY FROM WORK for an ENTIRE DAY today!!! Well, almost... I returned from seeing The Tale of Despereaux with the kids, and DH informed me that someone I left a message for yesterday had returned my call. So okay, I'll 'fess up - I called him back. But it was only a two minute call so it's like it barely happened... ;o)

And just ONE MORE SLEEP kids!! I know my kids are bouncing off the walls. Which is why I decided to take them to the movies - always a sure way to get them to sit still for a couple of hours (plus another hour if you count getting to the theatre and back ;o) )

Merry Christmas, everyone!

A-M

Repeat after me...

VACATION means NO WORK!! GAH! The good news is, I'm almost completely caught up on my paperwork for work. The bad news is, I'm spending my holidays doing WORK!! :o( Ah well, I just keep reminding myself that the more I get done now, the less overwhelmed I will feel when I return in the New Year... BUT I have decided that I will NOT do ANY work tomorrow! NONE!! Well, except for housework, I guess... LOL!

So as a reward, I stamp a little each night. :o) This is the first of two cards I made tonight:

OK, so I use the term 'card' lightly, as it's just a sliver of one, really, but it's SO DARN CUTE!! They call these 'scraplings', because, well, they're made from scraps. Specifically, they're intended to be made from the scrap of a standard size card (4.25" x 5.5") which has been shaved down to a 4.25" x 4.25" square card, therefore leaving a narrow 1.25" x 4.25" mini card. They make a cute gift tag, or a bookmark, or a quick 'thinking of you' kind of note you can leave on someone's desk at work or tuck into their mail box. I learned about these thanks to yesterday's Holiday Extravaganza challenge on SCS. I used a scrap of textured Kiwi Kiss c/s for the base of my scrapling, and a scrap of DP that I had left over from preparing make & takes for October/November. The stamp set is Bitty Basics (a hostess set that will be retiring with this cattie, and which saw ink for the first time tonight). I will definitely be making more of these!!

My next card is for today's Holiday Extravaganza challenge, which was basically a limited supplies challenge. The goal was to make a Birthday card using only one sheet of designer paper, two colours of cardstock (plus a neutral), three punches, and only one ribbon as an embellishment. I used the "Candy Lane" DP which will be featured in the upcoming Spring-Summer Idea Book and Catalogue, and paired it with Pink Pirouette and Riding Hood Red c/s. I also used Pink Pirouette striped grosgrain for my ribbon. The stamp sets are True Friend (flower image) and Lots of Thoughts (sentiment). The flower image was overstamped with Versamark and embossed with clear ep to give the card some texture. A very girly card, but it will definitely find a recipient :o)

Happy stampin'!

A-M

Another (holi)day, another card... or two!

or three, actually - I just saw the Holiday Challenge Extravaganza challenge for today and I'm feeling inspired! :) So stay tuned for another post, either later tonight or tomorrow morning...

Otherwise, after a busy day doing paperwork for my day job (Yes, I'm supposed to be on holidays, but I am planning on going back to a clean slate in January LOL), I finally sat down to STAMP!!

The first card, above, is for yesterday's Holiday Challenge, which was to create a square card, with a scalloped element, and a sentiment as the focus. I used a stamp from the Full of Life set for the sentiment, and the grasses from Inspired by Nature for the background. I love how simple and clean this card is! The colours are Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point and Riding Hood Red.

The second card is for today's Technique Lovers Challenge, which involved the faux silk techique, but with a twist.

The pear image from Infinite Goodness was stamped three times onto tissue paper using a masking technique. Then I wrinkled the tissue paper by wadding it into a ball and then opening it back up again. Then I stamped the pear image again, this time on white cardstock, and cut it out (I tried doing it on a lighter green but didn't get enough contrast with the Old Olive). Then, using a regular glue stick, I glued the white pear to the back of the tissue paper,to correspond with the pear on the tissue paper, finally mounting the whole thing onto a piece of Old Olive cardstock (once again using the glue stick).

Here is a close-up of the faux silk panel:

Doesn't that look neat?

OK, time for a nice cup of tea, then onto that next challenge...

Happy Stampin'!

A-M

Taking a break from Christmas cards

Even though it's white-out conditions out there (perfect for stamping, btw LOL), I decided to stamp a non-Christmas card for today's Featured Stamper challenge. The stamper in question is Paula Tracy and I just fell in love with her soft sympathy card.

Mine is Baja Breeze and Kiwi Kiss instead of the soft powder blue she used. And I really liked the look of the panel in the bg, so tried to recreate it with my brayer (I used a reverse masking technique so that only the strip in the centre of the textured white cardstock got inked). And I used a different stamp set, which is not a negative-space kind of image, so stamped it in white craft ink and embossed it with white ep, on Baja Breeze c/s. And I used a faux-stitching technique on the three panels.

Happy Stampin'!

A-M

Fruity Inspiration

Told ya I'd be stampin' lots today :o)

This card is for today's Inspiration Challenge. I chose this fun pillow as an inspiration piece:

Isn't it great? I used Season of Friendship for the tree trunk and sentiment, and used the small solid circle from Enjoy Every Moment for the dots. The colours are More Mustard, Summer Sun, Tangerine Tango and Kiwi Kiss (the trunk is Chocolate Chip). I love how fun and citrus-y this card turned out!

I think this one will be going into my reserve stash.

Happy Stampin'!

A-M