Pre-Convention Crazies

Well, tomorrow I leave for my first ever Convention, and if the rumours prove true, it is going to be a CRAZY time!  It is held in Salt Lake City and we're travelling there from British Columbia, driving part way and then flying in.  I've been madly trying to complete gobs of cards for swapping.  I think I'm finally done and now I must pack.  But before I go, I wanted to leave you with a couple of cards.  One I created for the swaps and for the Paper Player's Wordsmith Challenge.  The other my daughter made while she was here for the weekend.  In between all the preparations,  two of my daughters arrived for an impromtu visit and brought both my grandsons.  Can you say, "Grandmother Heaven"?
So hard to concentrate with two lovely baby boys to hold and play with!  I'll post some pictures when I get back.

Here's the first card:

I thought it was so appropriate for swapping at Convention, because, aside from getting great card samples, it's all about making new friends with the same interests as you.  I used the new stamp set, From My Heart.  I so love the images and sayings on that set!  I also used some DSP from the International Bazaar series, a base of Midnight Muse card stock and Marina Mist for the label.

Here's the wording of the challenge:

I'm short on time, so I'll have to add the recipes when I get back.  Sorry about that!
And now, here's the card my daughter, Jaimie, made:

 

It was made using a "bundle" from the new Holiday Mini Catalogue, which comes into effect on August 1.  This is the "Perfectly Preserved" bundle which includes the Perfectly Preserved stamp set and the Cannery Set of framelits!  So cute, as you can see.  She has so many eye-catching elements on this card and a great colour palette! It was so nice to spend some crafting time together this weekend, as she lives 11 hours away and we don't get many hours to spend together!

Hope you like these little samples and I'll have TONS more to share with you when I get home from Convention in a week!  Be good 'til then!

Citrus Celebration

I love citrus!  Flavours, colours, everything about citrus!  My house is painted in citrus colours (not as wild as it sounds)!

My favourite lifesaver flavours are all the citrus ones.

 So I was excited to see that The Paper Players had chosen a citrus palette for their 103rd challenge.

  Here's what I came up with:

I used a technique that I've heard called "Faux Mosaic".  I described how it's done in this earlier post.

I was debating whether to use this card, or the one in the previous post as a card swap for Convention.    I think it's going to be the other card, because masculine design is always something people want samples of.



I just need to find some different paper for the bottom panel, as that DSP is now retired.  Any suggestions? 

If you want to know how to make the delicious little double bow on the first card, follow this link to a video tutorial by Ann Schach.  It makes it SO easy.  Love it!

Okay, must get back to my prep for Convention, Class and Workshop this week!  Phew!

Stamps:  Elements of Style (c 120045; set of 5; $24.95)

Paper: Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade and Whisper White card stock; Watercolor Paper (122959; 5  6x9 sheets; $5.95)

Ink: Classic Stampin' Pads in Calypso Coral (126983), Lucky Limeade (126984) and Daffodil Delight (126944), all $7.25; VersaMark Pad (102283; $9.95)

Accessories:  Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon (122976; 10 yds.); Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder (109130; $5.95); Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246; 150 jewels; $6.50)

Tools:  Large Oval punch (119855; $21.95); Scalloped Oval punch (119856; $22.95); Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder (116824; $9.95);  Heat Tool (129053; $36.95)

Elements of Style

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Heat Tool



Beautiful Sunday!

Finally, Summer has decided to show her face here in the West.  Gorgeous weather: hot and sunny; clear blue skies.  For you folks back east, this may be a touchy subject.  I can see how you have been suffering for weeks now.  I'm hoping you'll get some relief soon, but we were starting to wonder if we should build arks here in the West!!

I wanted to do a quick share of a workshop make-and-take.  I CASE'd this from this lovely card I received in a swap with my sidelines.  Just not quite sure who made the original.  Let me know, team, and I'll post the proper name.  I have seen the cut outs done before and I have been wanting to try a card making use of them.

Card swaps can be a great source of inspiration.  That's why I'm working so hard on some swaps for Convention.  I know I'll get some great ideas with all the cards I get back.

Here's my take on this card:

I used Island Indigo as my card base and some DSP from the International Bazaar series as the next layer.  I embossed the Whisper White piece with the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder and punched out the flower shape using the Blossom punch.  I stamped two of the images from the Mixed Bunch stamp set, one in Lucky Limeade and one in Island Indigo and punched them out as well with the Blossom punch.  I also punched a third flower layer in Pool Party cardstock and stamped a center in Pool Party ink and punched it out using the 1" Circle punch.  I layed all the flowers, after curling the petals a bit, with a brad and used a glue dot to attach the Brights Designer Series Button.  I used glue dots as well to attach a snippet of Lucky Limeade Ruffled ribbon to the back and then to attach all to the card.  A button is also used for the center of the cut away flower and a Pearl Basic Jewel was added to each button.  The sentiment is from a set called Loving Thoughts and some Pool Party Baker's twine is threaded through the little button and tied in a small bow.

 

And there you have it!  Fairly quick and easy and effective!

Enjoy your Sunday in the sun!

Stamps:  Mixed Bunch (c 125537; set of 6; $26.95); Loving Thoughts (c 125845; set of 11; $28.95)

Paper: Island Indigo, Pool Party and Whisper White card stock; International Bazaar DSP (126920; 12 double sided sheets of 12 x 12; $13.50)

Ink: Classic Stampin' Pads in Island Indigo (126986) and Pool Party (126982), both $7.25

Accessories: Lucky Limeade Ruffled ribbon (122977; 10 yds., $13.50); Pool Party Baker's Twine (125574; 25 yds.; $3.95), Brights Designer Buttons (119747; 72 buttons; $10.95) 

Tools: Blossom punch (125603; $22.95); 1" Circle punch (119868; $15.95); Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder (116824; $9.95)



Mixed Bunch

International Bazaar

Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon



Playing with Pals

Greetings fellow earthlings!  Remember Marvin the Martian on Bugs Bunny?  One of my favourite toon characters!

I especially love his voice.  Check him out here.
Not sure how I got onto this thread, but let's get off  - quick!

 I decided to play along with the Pals Paper Arts Challenge #138 (because I was a PPA Pick for their last challenge!! Woohoo!)  It is a colour challenge with some really contrasting hues: 

Since I had a Happy Retirement card to make for a former colleague of mine, I put the two together to come up with this:

I'm just loving Everything Eleanor!  It has so many beautiful components - the label, the flourish and the gorgeous flowers!  And I tried the new Large Scallop Edgelit on the Early Espresso bottom panel.  I sponged the flowers and the label with Cherry Cobbler and Daffodil Delight and I used a video tutorial from Anne Schach to tie the double bow out of Daffodil delight.  (Hmmm - should have worked with it a bit more to expand the loops.)  Too late, now - I've given it away!

Lots of Pearl Basic Jewels finish off the look! 

Have a great weekend!

Stamps: Everything Eleanor (c 124164; set of 8; $32.95); Curly Cute (c 120510; set of 5; $17.95)

Paper: Early Espresso and Whisper White card stock; Brights Collection DSP stack (117155; 40 sheets of 12 x 12; $26.95)

Ink:  Classic Ink Pads in Early Espresso (126974), Daffodil Delight (126944) and Cherry Cobbler (126966) each $7.25

Accessories: Daffodil Delight Seam Binding Ribbon (125583; 10 yds; $9.50); Pearls Basic Jewels (119247; 150 jewels; $6.50), Large Pearl Basic Jewels (125577; 40 jewels; $6.50),

Tools: Modern Label Punch (119849; $22.95); Large Scallop Edgelit (127019; $9.95)

The Winnah!

Just a quick post today, because I am overwhelmed with workshop and class prep, and swaps to prepare for Convention (getting sooo close!). 

I wanted to post the results of my draw for a free stamp set.  This contest was posted on both my blog and on my Facebook business page.  The winner of a free stamp set, World Treasures, is Rachel Bohn.  Please email me, Rachel with your address and we can arrange delivery.

I also wanted to show you a card I created for a dear couple whose car was totalled just as they were turning left to come to church Sunday morning.  Miraculously, they are mostly unharmed, except for soreness and trauma, even though their airbags deployed and the other car, who was speeding up to beat a red light, flipped over. (The driver of that vehicle was also unhurt!) I think I will be using this card or a version of it as the last of my Technique Class cards next Wednesday!

I used a subdued palette of Chocolate Chip, River Rock and Pink Pirouette along with Very Vanilla card stock. The sentiment panel is background stamped with En Francais and the water marks from French Foliage.  The sentiment itself is from the Trust God set.  The flower on the Pink Pirouette is stamped in Early Espresso ink and sponged with Pretty in Pink.  It is from the Everything Eleanor stamp set. 

The flagged sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  Everything was sponged in Soft Suede and the edges distressed.  I added some button-like brads from Vintage Trinkets.  I decided against adding a ribbon to keep it from being too cluttered but there are definitely things I could change to bump it up a bit to the next level.

Also, Stampin' Up has a promotion for July to give you a "Reason to Smile".

Have a great Wednesday, and congratulations again to Rachel Bohn for winning the Blog Candy!

Stamps: En Francais (w 109521; set of 1; $21.95); Trust God (c 126702; set of 7; $17.95); Everything Eleanor (c 124164; set of 8; $32.95); French Foliage (c 121166; set of 6; $17.95); Teeny Tiny Wishes (w 115370; set of 24; $45.95)

Paper: Chocolate Chip, River Rock, Very Vanilla and Pink Pirouette card stock; Fan Fair Designer Series paper (126918; 12 sheets of double sided designs; 12 x 12; $13.50)

Ink: Classic Stampin' Pads in Soft Suede (126978); Early Espresso (126974); Crumb Cake (126975); Pretty in Pink (126955); (all $7.25)

Accessories: Vintage Trinkets (118764; 48 pieces; $7.50) 

Tools: Stripes Embossing Folder (123128; $9.95); Stamping Sponges (101610; 3 sponges; $4.25); Labels Collection Framelits (125598; 6 dies; $32.95)

En Francais

French Foliage

Trust God

The "Eyes" Have It!

I am suffering right now!  Not exactly in pain, no illness, no heartbreak, but my right eye is so irritated that it is constantly watering!  There's nothing in there, but it feels like there is.  I didn't scratch my cornea and I don't have allergies - at least none that have been discovered, but MAN, I feel for those of you who do, because this is uber-annoying.  The pharmacist suggested a natural tear solution for dry eye, and I've used two doses of it to no avail.  What's next?

By the way, there is still time to enter to win some blog candy - a free stamp set.  Find out how on my last post.

Anyway, between sniffling, snivelling and rubbing my eye, (I know I shouldn't, but I can't help it.) I made a card for the MOJO Monday challenge this week.  It's also for a friend's birthday, and this friend is also going in for surgery this week, so I wanted it to be special.  I looked at my photos of her and the colours I chose are colours she often wears.  Here's the card:

I used the MOJO Monday #248 sketch by Carole Burrage this week:

 

I'm still trying out new stamp sets from the 2012-13 Idea Book and Catalogue and today I used the set, Blooming with Kindness for the sentiment and for the stamped off flower image behind it.  I really like this set for the fonts and for the 'shadow' stamping of the image, for want of a better description.  I used Papillon Potpourri again for the butterflies, stamping them in StazOn jet black ink and watercolouring using Blender Pens and ink from either a Classic Stampin' Pad or a Stampin' Write marker.  The DSP is in Midnight Muse from the In Colour Designer Series Paper Stack.  To get the scalloped edge on the backing for the DSP panel I used an Adorning Accents Edgelit.  And I added some Pearl Basic Jewels to embellish it.

And if anyone has a remedy to stop my incessant, involuntary weeping, I will be indebted to you forever!  

Stamps:  Blooming with Kindness (c 126422; set of 6; $20.95); Papillon Potpourri (c 123759; set of 7; $17.95)
Paper: Midnight Muse, Tempting Turquoise; Elegant Eggplant and Whisper White cardstock; 2012-14 In Colour Paper Stack (126910; 40 sheets; 12 x 12; $26.95)
Ink: StazOn Jet Black (101406;$10.50); Classic Stampin' Pad in Tempting Turquoise (126952); Lucky Limeade (126984); Midnight Muse (126860); Pool Party (126982); Summer Starfruit (126991); all $7.25; Stampin' Write markers in the same colours (order as a whole collection)
Accessories: Pearls Basic Jewels (119247; 150; $6.50); 3/8" Stitched Satin ribbon in Midnight Muse (126847; 10 yds; $12.25)
Tools:  Elegant Butterfly Punch (127526; $21.95); Adorning Accents Edgelits (125595; $11.95); Labels Collection Framelits (125598; $32.95)

Happy Canada Day and Blog Candy!

Well, I'm back!  I had great plans of writing a post or two while I was away, but I couldn't access the photos I needed, and, truthfully... I was just too busy holding a new-born!  My readers are all very important to me - never doubt it - but a new grandson just takes up all my attention!  Yes, that's right, I was up in northern British Columbia visiting my daughter and son-in-law who just delivered an 8lb. 12 oz. baby boy last Monday.  She called us in the wee hours of Monday morning and we set out as soon as we could load the truck for the 11 hour journey.  And what a lovely little darling awaited us:

Introducing:  Kesten Alec

And here is the new little family:

And here is what I did most of last week:

 

So, no, I didn't get any posts written.  But I promise to make up for it in the next couple of weeks.  And to prove it:  here's a card I crafted before I went away:



This is a perfect card for Canada Day!  Why?  Well, because Canada does multiculturalism so well, most of the time.  This card uses a stamp set called "World Treasures" and it totally says India and Bollywood to me.  Did you know that Toronto, Canada was a major production center for Bollywood films?

 I LOVE the peacock image and what you can do with it.  I stamped it five times using Pacific Point, Gumball Green, Pool Party, Lucky Limeade and Tempting Turquoise, then did a lot of fussy cutting!  I layered each stage of the image using dimensionals and added lots of Basic Rhinestones for major bling!  I also added some Shimmer paint to the peacock's body and to the Pacific Point Fancy Fan embossed background behind.  I think it's so cool that the Gumball Green panel, cut with the Apothecary Accents framelit, looks like an Indian archway when it is placed vertically.   

The DSP I used behind the sentiment is from the International Bazaar series and give a bright and exotic look to the card, and take a close look at the Stitched Satin ribbon in Midnight Muse.  I'm planning to get all the colours because they look so rich and decorative!

 Would you like to win this stamp set? Leave a comment on this post and I will enter your name in a draw. Sorry, but I can only ship to Canadian destinations!  For a second chance to win,  "Like" my Facebook page.

Hope you enjoyed this international travelogue and you are having a wonderful time celebrating Canada, the True North Strong and Free! 

Stamps:  World Treasures (c 126767; set of 4; $21.95)
Paper: Gumball Green, Pacific Point and Whisper White card stock, International Bazaar Designer Series paper (126920; 12 sheets of  12 x 12; $13.50)
Ink: Versamark (102283; $9.95); Classic Stampin' Pad in Pacific Point (126951), Gumball Green (126861), Pool Party (126982), Lucky Limeade (126984), Tempting Turquoise (126952) ($7.25 each)
Accessories: 3/8" Stitched Satin ribbon in Midnight Muse (126847; 10 yds; $12.25); Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246; 150 jewels; $6.50) Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (116806; $7.95)
Tools:  Apothecary Accents Framelits (127003; $31.95); Fancy Fan Embossing Folder (127751; $9.95)