Back to Basics for As You See It Challenges

It's been Back to School week here in British Columbia, and three of my six grandkids are now in school, two in Grade 1 and one in Kindergarten. Back to school seemed to go well for all of them and they are happy with their situations. And since it's Friday and time for a new As You See It Challenge, we had a theme challenge this week:

Back to Basics is a very timely challenge for this time of year, but what does it mean for crafters? Well, it means that you get down to the bare minimums: paper, stamps, ink and maybe a little ribbon thrown in, but not much more. Scissors and paper cutters can be used as well. I thought I'd tie this theme in with the back to school time of year to make an encouragement card for a student heading back to the books this fall:

• Using Basic Black cardstock and Wood Textures Designer Series Paper, I created a blackboard on which I stamped the ABC using the Letters for You stamp set and Whisper White Craft Ink. I added a few sponged smudges of the white ink to look like chalk dust on the board.
• I wanted an apple, but all I could find anywhere was the pile of apples from the Bike Ride stamp set, a 3 step stamping process. I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink for the outline, Real Red for the interior of the apples and Shaded Spruce for the leaves, echoing the Shaded Spruce card base.
• The sentiment is from the Better with You stamp set, stamped with Tuxedo Black ink again.
• The last touch is some Linen Thread wound twice around the Whisper White panel and tied in a bow at the right side.

Please join with us in the next couple of weeks and get Back to Basics yourself.

We got back on Tuesday from a camping trip to visit our daughter and family in Ft. St. James and then to see Barkerville, a historic site from BC's Gold Rush days back starting in 1858. Enjoy these photos:

These four photos were taken where my middle daughter lives in Ft. St. James. I had an great visit with her and with my grandkids, Kesten (above) and Cedar (left, in the tree). We visited the Fort - a national historic site, and you can see Ken posing there in the "lazy boy" on the left above and on the right above you can see the scene of the world famous "Chicken Races". I'm afraid that none of my selected contestants won even 1 of the races.

After leaving Ft. St. James, we headed to Barkerville, and here are a number of photos capturing the flavour of this Gold Rush city:

It was fun, but wet and cold on some days. We were sure glad we had Bucky (short for Buckingham Palace) our RV. We kept warm and dry inside!

Click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the products used to make this card today.

Product List

Letters For You Photopolymer Stamp Set [141968] $62.00	Better With You Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146567] $26.00	Better With You Wood-Mount Stamp Set [146564] $37.00	Bike Ride Photopolymer Stamp Set [143716] $27.00	Wood Textures Designer Series Paper Stack [144177] $15.00
Shaded Spruce 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146981] $11.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $13.25	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $11.50	Uninked Stampin’ Craft Pad & Whisper White Refill [147277] $13.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $8.25
Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [147084] $10.25	Shaded Spruce Classic Stampin' Pad [147088] $10.25	Stamping Sponges [141337] $4.75	Linen Thread [104199] $6.25	Stampin' Trimmer [126889] $40.00
Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755] $5.25

Sheltering Tree for Stamps, Ink, Paper

I think I'm almost 'Christmased' out! I needed a Christmas themed card for my Mom & Me class on Saturday, and I wandered my craft room for a long time trying to find a stamp set I felt like using. Finally, I came across a set I haven't used in eons, Sheltering Tree, and a theme challenge from Stamps, Ink, Paper:

Finally, I knew what to do, but Christmas burnout was a close thing there! Is anyone else feeling it? Luckily, I'm expecting my Occasions Catalogue pre-order any day now and I'll have some new toys to play with. That should help my mojo to pick up again! Here's how I was able to use Sheltering Tree to create a snowy day image:

• It can be a bit tricky using the Whisper White Craft Ink and Silver Embossing Powder together. In my first attempt I stamped the Whisper White first, then, using the same foliage stamp, stamped over it in Versamark and added the Silver Embossing Powder. Even though I had thoroughly dried the craft ink (I thought) and used the Embossing Buddy, I still had Silver Embossing Powder sticking all over everything. So then I embossed first and then stamped, but the Craft ink rubbed right off the embossed area, as I expected it would, leaving not much left over. 
• My final solution, which you see here, was to stamp the foliage in the Whisper White Craft ink then let it dry longer than you think necessary and use the heat tool on it for a while to make sure it's perfectly dry. Then really go over it well with the embossing buddy. Finally use the smaller snowflakes stamp to add some silver embossing to the tree area, especially the middle where the ink intensity lightens up.
• I used the same small snowflake stamp to add falling snow around the outside of the tree.
• The sentiment is from the Musical Season stamp set, and it is also embossed in Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder.
• I added some Rhinestone Basic Jewels and some snowflakes die cut from Silver Foil Sheets using the Seasonal Tags framelits.

How is your Christmas shopping going? Is the stress getting to you? If you have some crafters on your list, or if you are a crafter, I have some suggestions that may help:

1. Paper Pumpkin prepaid subscriptions make wonderful gifts especially for busy people who would love to craft if only they had the time, space and equipment! Paper Pumpkin takes care of all of that in a once a month, all inclusive kit that is delivered right to the recipient's door! The projects are fun, high quality and for a good price. You can order the prepaid subscriptions right from me.

1 month = $27.00

3 months = $79,00

   6 months = $154.00 

(save $1 a month)

12 months = $295.00

(save $2 a month)

2. Gift Certificates: I have 'em! In any denomination you want! I can even email one to you if time is tight. Then your crafter can redeem them for the exact products or classes they most want!

3. Gift Registry: Send me your wish list and let your friends and family know that I have it. I can make sure there are no duplicates and steer them toward the things you most want. The deadline is looming, however, for ordering with a guarantee of getting the products before Christmas! It's Dec. 7! Yikes! That's tomorrow! If anyone orders for you I will include a treat from me in the order as well!

4. Stampin' Up! All Inclusive Kits - These make great gifts for crafters, especially those without a lot of tools or room to stamp, or beginning crafters! Everything they need is included. Look on pages 11 - 15 of the Annual Catalogue. 

Hope that was helpful! But don't miss the deadline! I have an order going in! Contact me!

Click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the products used to make this card today.

Product List

Sheltering Tree Photopolymer Stamp Set [137163] $31.00	Musical Season Clear-Mount Stamp Set [144811] $24.00	Musical Season Wood-Mount Stamp Set [144814] $33.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272] $9.25	Silver Foil Sheets [132178] $5.25
Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [120953] $10.00	Versamark Pad [102283] $11.25	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [126974] $8.50	Whisper White Uninked Craft Stampin’ Pad & Refill [145406] $12.25	Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder [109131] $6.75
Embossing Buddy [103083] $8.00	Heat Tool [129053] $40.00	Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220] $6.75	Seasonal Tags Framelits Dies [144685] $38.00	Big Shot [143263] $136.00
Fast Fuse Adhesive [129026] $13.50	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755] $5.25	Glue Dots [103683] $7.00	Mini Stampin' Dimensionals [144108] $5.25