Red and Green SING!

Gosh, can you believe it's the last day of November? Me either...

I combined two Craft Secrets challenges from SCS with this card. The first challenge (two weeks ago) was to make a RED and GREEN card. The second challenge (last week) was to make a card with a music theme. I found this great image in a Heartwarming Vintage booklet. I paired with some yummy Bo Bunny paper. The glitter edge around the image is with some tinsel glitter by Martha Stewart. My friend, Heather, gave me a box of 12 tinsel glitter tubes for my birthday. It's like the stuff that went on our Christmas tree in the 60's, but in flake form. Let me tell you...it GOES EVERYWHERE and STICKS to EVERYTHING!!! It's a great look though!

Stamps: none
Image: Crafty Secrets HEARTWARMING VINTAGE
Paper: Bo Bunny
Ink: none
Accessories: Martha Stewart Tinsel Glitter, glue pen, Prima leaves, frosted beads, doily, Glimmer Mist: Candy Apple Red & marshmallow.

Watercolor (a tutorial of sorts)

So I ventured out to the stores today...I had to. My niece has a birthday in a few short days and I needed to get a gift. And I'm working on a "December Daily" album ala Ali Edwards. I needed a few more window sheets for that. It wasn't too bad. I think the worst of the "Black Friday" stuff is over. (wink) Now it's just the usual Christmas madness.

I'd like to share some pictures I took while making this card I posted a month or so ago for KLSNS Snowflake challenge tutorial. Over a year ago I took a watercoloring class at my LSS from Dave Brethauer of Memory Box Stamps. This is one of the basic background watercolor techniques.

Stamps: Stampendous SILENT NIGHT SNOWMAN
Paper: Basic Grey ESKIMO KISSES
Ink: SU! Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzelberry, and Melon Mambo (re-inkers)
Accessories: Deb's Crystal snowflakes, EK Success border punch, glitter pen, aqua pen, glue pen, glitter, and Souffle pen.

I use 140lbs cold-press watercolor paper. Mist a section of paper with water until shiny. Wait a few minutes until the paper absorbs some (not all) of the water.

In the LSS class, Dave had us use Twinkling H2Os for coloring. It's a great look with the shimmer of mica, but here I used SU! re-inkers. Water them down a bit. A little color goes a LONG way in watercolor.

Use a aqua pen or paint brush to drag a bit of color back and forth in a block. Start in one corner and don't lift the brush. The water on the paper will draw the color "down". Flip the paper 180-degrees and drag a second color into the center to meet the first color. I used a very little of the Razzelberry at the very top.

Then using pure color you can add a 1/2 drop in the corner. Let the water draw the ink down. If you need a bit more water, mist gently.

Dry the paper completely. If you leave it to dry naturally, the colors will mix very subtlety. But you can also use the heat gun to speed the process. The colors will stay a little more separate with the heat gun. When completely dry you can stamp directly over the watercolor in permanent ink. I always use Archival Ink for this because it will stay "on top" of the color.

Using solid colors, you can then highlight the image (lower left along the bottom & the hat/scarf - not visible in this picture). And a final highlight of Souffle pen and glitter - because well it's GLITTER! (GRIN).

And so it begins...

Yesterday I logged on to check my email very quickly and found BLACK FRIDAY coupons and sales from EVERYBODY under the sun! I'm all for a GREAT deal but I have never been a fan of getting up early. And to get up early to SHOP?!?!? Fuggeddaboudit! I'll shop by computer and avoid the crowds of cranky people in the mall! Getting up at 2am for a 3am sale on a waffle iron....you're nutz! (grin)

Fortunately, KL Stampin 'n Scrappin is an online store!! (BIGGER grin) I can shop in my jammies!

Today for KLSNS blog, I made this birthday card from this Rachelle Ann Miller stamp. I think it would be great as baby card, too. And an even better a baby card for triples! It looks like she has a lively trio on her hands.
As I was looking through my stack of paper last night, I came across this beautiful red, green, yellow flower paper from Basic Grey's Nook and Pantry. The vintage look of the paper and the delicate image work well together. I watercolored the image with SU! re-inkers and my aqua pen. I love my Copics but sometimes the lighter color of watercolor goes better with an image don't you think? JUMP INTO MY POUCH is currently available in the KLSNS store - but not for much longer! It's retiring!

Stamps: Rachelle Ann Miller: JUMP INTO MY POUCH
Paper: Basic Grey NOOK and PANTRY
Ink: Stazon Black
Accessories: Aqua painter, re-inkers, ribbon, stapler, Nesties, glue pen, and glitter.

Happy BLACK FRIDAY shopping!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!



Stamps: Art Gone Wild
Paper: SU! Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Pumpkin Pie, and More Mustard
Ink: black
Accessories: Copics, Nesties lace border die, ribbon, gold cord, gold nail head
Technique Junkies: Out of the Box (O/N '04)

Skate Giftcard Holder

Still working on challenges! This is a combination of three challenges:
1) Play Date Cafe color challenge - Julie of A VINTAGE CHIC is the newest design team member. She selected grape, light blue, silver, and white as the color combo.
2) This week's SCS Try a New Technique #246- Christmas stocking giftcard holder. The template for the stocking is here.
3) The monthly Wish RAK (random acts of kindness) challenge #1 - to make a Christmas card!

I was not having much luck (last night or this morning) getting a good picture of this. I think it's the colors - they're just too light for a good picture. Winter light doesn't help either.

I selected the little skating couple (TAC Winter Wonderland) one of the very first Wish RAK images I ever got. Looking at them skating got my creative juices flowing. I decided to add a blade to the stocking. As I was cutting (free-hand) the blade out - I started to giggle. You know what that means! (grin)

The rest was simple construction. Leaving a pocket opening for a giftcard. And coloring the image with Copics and glitter.

The gift card is tucked inside under the flap. I might need to make a few more of these!

Stamps: The Angel Company (TAC) WINTER WONDERLAND
Paper: blue scrap, Basic Grey Wisteria
Ink: none
Accessories: glitter, silver cord, Copics, unraveled ribbon.

Tag Tuesday Challenge #26 - Red, Green and Golden Yellow Christmas

I've been working on some challenges! I have a ton I want to do because they all sounds so fun!
This is week 2 of the COLORS OF CHRISTMAS challenge on Tag Tuesday. This week is red, green and golden yellow. My first thought went to this holly paper. It's my new favorite because it's so gorgeous! I did use a manila tag as the base but cut cover paper. The Santa stamp is also one of my favorites! I wanted him to be a "vision", so I tucked him into the holly. "BELIEVE" was stamped in glue and then covered with red glitter. Distressed edges, photo corner, and silk holly to finish! (oh..and I didn't use my Martha holly punch this time, but only because the scale was wrong).

Stamps: Rubber Stampede SANTA COLLAGE, PaperTrey BELIEVE (sentiment)
Paper: tag, BoBunny ST.NICK HOLLY BERRY
Ink: Distress Ink: Fired Brick , glue pad
Accessories: glitter, Making Memories silk holly leaves, Ideaology metal photo corners, and ribbon.

Exploding Giftcard Box

You might remember that I had a class at my LSS (local stamping store) last Thursday night before all the Twilight madness.

I've done exploding boxes before but this was so cute I took the class just to do the project. I can't seem to find the original directions I used on SCS - this one is close. With the exception of cutting out the folded flaps the rest of the tutorial will get you there.

This box is a bit taller than the SCS version. I would guess it stands about 4 inches tall and 3 inches square.

When the box lid is removed the flaps fall open to revel the gift card holder. The three snowflakes, small "no peeking" and Santa all "float" around on little strips of acetate. I did the same thing on my FLUFFLES VAMPIRE card.

Gift card holder.

The box lid has a small card on top. I think the only thing this box really lacks is a way to keep it closed until Christmas. I think I'll be adding a ribbon or something.

The teacher, Dana Bincer, also has pictures of the class project on her web page Stamping with Princess. You can tell I didn't stray too far from the original (which is pretty rare for me). I think I just loved all the elements (the floating Santa) and the paper is great! She also had some examples of other boxes she did including a "wedding" album that was beyond yummy!

Now...to figure out who get this box at Christmas! :D

Par-tay time!

I'm so excited!!! Tim got me started on tags and just announced this year's 12 Tags of Christmas:


Here's the link!

I can't wait!!

Tag Tuesday Challenge #26 - Pink, Brown, Burgandy Christmas

After my busy week, I mostly took the weekend off! I did bake rolls & cinnamon rolls for Thanksgiving yesterday. Today, I'll admit to procrastinating. I do needlework finishing for one of my old store customers. I've been putting off working on it. My heart isn't in needlework at the moment - not even somebody else's.

But I did put the time to some good use...I worked on the Tuesday Tag challenge (I know...I'm a bit late with that too).

This week's challenge was the start of "COLORS OF CHRISTMAS: Pink, Brown, and Burgundy".

I started with a cream tag. I stamped a corner medallion (I don't think you can see it very well) in white acrylic paint and then brushed some of the paint in the middle. After that dried I sprayed with Glimmer Mist. Blotting and drying between each color. Then stamped snowflakes and words directly on the tag. The girl is stamped on glossy paper per directions from Oxford Impressions for a "picture" like image; and then cut out. Everything was then layered.

Stamps: Oxford Impressions WINTER SNOW; Penny Black CORNER PIECE
Paper: tag, glossy paper
Ink: Distress Ink: Fired Brick & Vintage Photo
Accessories: Crystal Snowflakes; Glimmer Mist: Creme de Rouge, Creme de Cocoa, Creme de Chocolat; paper doily, rhinestone snowflakes, Martha Stewart postage square punch, Hearthwarming Vintage letters.

GRATEFUL!

There's a current trend on different blogs and on Facebook to say what you're grateful for each day.

I'm grateful for many things:
* My family - we seem to actually like/love/respect each other and I know that's not true for every family out there. So, I'm grateful for our relationship. (I just wish most of you lived closer!!)
* My friends- old & new - I am grateful for our alikeness and differences. To my stamping buds, I wish I could meet you all in person but I love seeing your work electronically. You inspire me!
* My job - times are tough and I'm grateful everyday for the paycheck at the end of the week. And the ability to work from home.
* My created outlet - I've always been "crafty" as my family calls it. Be that needlework, scrapbooking/cardmaking, or baking bread. The process recharges my batteries!
* My home/health - as my friend Julie pointed out on her blog yesterday. There are a lot of people that don't have one/the other/both.

And on to my KLSNS blog entry for today! The card background was dry embossed with the Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: BIRDS AND SWIRLS. The large panel print is Basic Grey INDIAN SUMMER. And the main panel is Whisper White stamped with Basic Grey's FAUNA set. I stamped along the edges leaving a good deal of "white space", then stamped "GRATEFUL" from PaperTrey's GRATEFUL set in Brilliance black. When all the ink was dry, I went back over the round Pomegranate leaves and used Magenta Stickles to add some bling. I used this weeks' SCS sketch (SC255) for the layout.

Stamps: Basic Gray FAUNA stamp set, PTI GRATEFUL (sentiment)
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Basic Grey INDIAN SUMMER
Ink: SU! Purely Pomegranate, Chocolate Chip, More Mustard
Accessories: SU! Purely Pomegranate double stitch ribbon, Stickles, and Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Birds & Swirls

Stampin D'Amour - November ATC

I've had a busy week! Everything has piled up at the end of the week starting last night and picking my mom up at the airport. I have swaps due. I have my usual Friday blog post for KLSNS to get ready. I have a haircut and potluck to squeeze in. And tonight not only do I have a class at my local stamp store, but some friends (Heather & Dave) and I are going to the midnight snowing of NEW MOON. I don't totally get the "screaming fan" Twilight thing but I did like the series. And I am a "dog" person. (wink) Not sure how I'll work tomorrow but you have to have some fun in life! Right?

So one of the commitments is the Stampin D'Amour ATC for November. It's due on the 25th and I was seriously not sure I'd get to it. But inspiration struck when I saw this cute little Santa Girl from Collage Stuff. Lisa always has something new and vintage on her site. And I think it's well priced too. I must say, I'm getting my money's worth from that Martha Stewart Holly punch. I think this is the 3rd time in a week that I've used it on something. The "let it snow" is a line sticker.

Stamps: none
Paper: Archivers sparkle paper, white,
Ink: ColorBox Roan Brown
Image: CollageStuff.com
Accessories: Martha Stewart Holly Punch, rhinestones/pearls, Stickles, silver sticker row, and gold pen.

A Bridal Shower

This weekend after I posted my 9am VSN entry, Mom and I left to drive to Denver and then fly to Milwaukee. My one and only niece, Jessica, is getting married. Her future mother-in-law held a surprise bridal shower for her on Sunday.

Nate and Jess's engagement picture.

Jess is the most UN-froo-froo girl I know so I did a CAS card for them. All directly stamped on Neenah Solar White. The flower border was lightly colored with COPICs to give a hint of color. The dots on the wheel were covered with mini rhinestones (because Aunt Deb has to put bling on everything).

Stamps: Stampin Up! Forever Flowers wheel and Together Forever
Paper: Neenah Solar White
Ink: Brilliance Black, Real Red
Accessories: Copics, rhinestones, and silver cord.

Jess' first stunned "what are you doing here?" look was priceless. This isn't the 1st time I've surprised her. I think it's #3. But she always seems glad to me see me after it sinks in!

Nate knew about the shower so Jess gave him the eye when she found out.

A hug from Gram is always good!

I flew home late Sunday night expecting major snow in Denver. But it had passed by the time I got home. I had clear roads most of the way. The only snow/ice I ran into was about 2 miles from my house. OH...and on my car. It took me 20 minutes to clear the windshield, so I could drive.

VSN #5 - BENVENUTI al CARNIVALE di VENEZIA!

HI! Welcome to my challenge! Please join me on the SCS VSN thread and play along!

My sister teaches high school math/science at Aviano High School, Aviano Air Force Base, Italy which is an hour north of Venice, Italy. We visit from time to time and in 2001, we went to Carnivale (the Italian version of Mardi Gras). Unlike it’s New Orleans counter part, this is more Masquerade Ball than Street Party. The denizens of Venice spend up to a year on costumes to be displayed in San Marco Square during the festivities. These elegant costumes are head to toe FABULOUS! I took over 20 pictures of costumes and narrowing it down to 4 to share was nearly impossible.

My challenge is for you: Using one of the costume patterns listed below create your own card. Remember, the Venice Carnival is all about opulence! Check the challenge thread for the specific requirements related to each picture!

THE GHOST
The challenge picture.

My version of the challenge.

Stamps: Magnolia EDWIN'S SNOWMAN
Paper: acetate, metallic aqua,
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: rub-ons, ribbon (unraveled grosgrain), COPICS, paper snowflakes, rhinestones

THE LADY IN RED
The challenge picture.


My version of the challenge.

Stamps: Stampin Up! FRIENDS 24-7
Paper: white, SU! Real Red, Summer Sun
Ink: SU! Real Red, Summer Sun
Accessories: Heidi Swapp Mask, Glimmer Mist: Candy Apple Red, Sunflower, Nestabilities tag & ovals, embossing folders, paper piercer, and rhinestones.

BAROQUE COUPLE
The challenge picture.

My version of the challenge.

Stamps: Magnolia NEW YEARS TILDA, Stampin Up! WONDERFUL WORDS
Paper: black, white, cream, metallic gold
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Nestablities Lacy Border, EK Success border punch, gold glimmer pen, polka dot ribbon, gold fringe cord, rhinestones, Copics, and Glossy Accents (on her shoes).

THE SUNFLOWER
The challenge picture.

My version of the challenge

Stamps: Stampin Up! SUNFLOWERS, Stampendous GRASSHOPPER, PaperTrey Ink MIXED MESSAGES
Paper: Cream and white mulberry paper
Ink: Brilliance Black
Accessories: Clear EP, Glimmer Mist: Patina, Sunflower, Key Lime Pie, Prima flower (sprayed with Sunflower), button, Scrapper's Floss, Sizzix ARCHITECTURAL ACCENTS and tag, green glimmer pen.

Hope you play along!

VSN #4 - Renaissance Emergence

RENAISSANCE EMERGENCE: Use the Emerging Colors technique in the SCS gallery to make a card.

I stamped coffee beans, mini coffee cups and Mocha/Java/Expresso sentiment all over white paper. Then stamped large coffee cups in embossing ink and covered with clear EP. Then I brayered over the entire card with Chocolate Chip. For a little extra interest I stamped a swirl and covered with copper EP. This was a mistake - the copper stuck to the clear and made it muddy. Live and learn! (grin)

Stamps: Stampin Up WHAT'S BREWING and SIP BY SIP, sentiment by Inkadinkado
Paper: SU! whisper white, Not Quite Navy, and Very Vanilla
Ink: SU! Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Not Quite Navy, and Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Clear and copper EP and brayer

That's it for tonight! Join me in the morning for my challenge!

VSN #3 - Tonight We're Gonna Party like it's 1999

TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA PARTY LIKE IT'S 1999: Let the song titles of the top 100 hits of 1999 inspire a card!

I picked #1 BELIEVE by Cher
Who doesn't BELIEVE in Santa? I love this stamp by the Angel Company (TAC) - Vintage Santa. It's so classic. I used Technique Junkies SEPIA method on Santa. The image is stamped on Kraft paper in a brown ink. Then gently colored in whites and in this case chalks. The edges were distressed and then outlined with gold ink. A Crystal Snow flake to embellish.

Stamps: TAC Vintage Santa; Stampers Anonymous SANTA's WISH (pine bough), and Memory Box "Believe"
Paper: SU! Kraft, Bo Bunny
Ink: Distress Ink: Vintage Photo, Pine Needles, and Aged Mahogany; Stazon Timber Brown, SU! craft White
Accessories: Deb's Crystal Snowflakes, gold pen, edge distressor, sponge, giltter pen, aqua pen, chalks.
Technique Junkies: Sepia with Torn Edges

VSN #2 - Comedy & Tragedy

COMEDY & TRAGEDY: The challenge for this round was to make two cards using the same stamps but give each card it's own feel.

I pre-stamped a white sheet of paper with Stampin Up!'s BEST BLOSSOMS and then punched out two circles. Each circle was stamped with a different sentiment. Backed with scalloped frame. Each designer paper was embossed with the same embossing folder.

"COMEDY" - Thank you in bright colors.

Stamps: Stampin Up! BEST BLOSSOMS, Stampin Up! Warmest Regards
Paper: Bo Bunny.
Ink: SU! Old Olive, Summer Sun, Real Red, Pixie Pink
Accessories: Ribbon, round & scalloped Marvy punches, and embossing folder

"TRAGEDY" - Thinking of you in somber colors.

Stamps: Stampin Up! BEST BLOSSOMS, Stampin Up! Warmest Regards
Paper: Bazzill cardstock, Basic Grey INDIAN SUMMER
Ink: SU! Old Olive, Summer Sun, Real Red, Pixie Pink
Accessories: Ribbon, round & scalloped Marvy punches, and embossing folder

VSN #1 - The CASE of the 'bellies

Welcome to VSN night! Please join in the fun on SCS - the main thread can be found here! The hostess for this round didn't pre-post for the other hostess so I had to play along with everybody else!

The CASE of the 'bellies: The challenge was to select a card out of the SCS gallery, and CASE (copy and share everything) and embellish it. AND it must have a ruffle.

I selected this card by TACKERTWOSOME. I added the red frame, watercolored the image, put glitter on the muff, added the ruffle, and chipboard sentiment.

Stamps: Stampington & Company HOLIDAY SWING
Paper: SU! designer paper
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Martha Steward corner and border punches, stickles, glitter, SU! reinkers, aqua pen, and K & Co chipboard sentiment.

An Award, KLSNS Thanksgiving card, and VSN!!

I really resisted starting a blog. I didn't think I'd have enough share. I had NO IDEA of the friends I'd make in the blogging world! Yesterday one of my new friends, Julie gave me an award on her blog, A Vintage Chic.
So, in keeping with this award, here are 5 things you might not know about me:

1) I was a summer exchange student to northern Norway right after high school. Find North Cape on the map, and go down to the dip. I lived in Karasjok for 2 months. I'm still VERY close with my Norwegian family.

2) Before stamping I was a needleworker for 25 years. I opened/closed a needlework store here in Colorado Springs from Jan 2003 to Nov 2005. I'm not stitching now, but will get back to it sooner or later.

3) I love to travel. I've been to quite a few places in this world: China, Panama Canal, a great deal of western Europe including northern Norway (grin), and 42/50 states (missing ND, IN, OH, SC, VT, NH, WV, and ME).

4) I'm a Colorado Native.

5) I love to read romantic mysteries, particularly the JD Robb's (pen name for Nora Roberts) "in Death" series! Love Eve and Rourke!!!

And I pass the award on to five of my blogging friends:
1) Jessica of Jess' Obsession - Jessica and I have "known" each other for several years now. We met swapping and we keep on swapping!

2)Donelda of Wiggy's World - I also met Donelda swapping on SCS. She always posts the most beautiful cards!

3)Jacque of Jacque's Joie de Virve - who hasn't been stamping all that long but does an INCREDIBLE job with the Magnolia Tilda's and other stamps.

4) Joanna of Sitting on Copic Pens and Knitting Needles - Joanna lives here in the Springs area so we get to stamp now and then. She's just started her blog but she (and her sons) are so funny! I love to hear what's new with them! Joanna will also be joining the KLSNS design team in January!

5) Kelly and all the girls of KLSNS DT blog - KL Stampin and Scrapping - These very talented ladies post every day. Each has their own style and they give me inspiration at every turn. I joined this DT to fill in for a member that had to leave suddenly. I've been enjoining the challenge of posting for them each week!

And so, on to the KLSNS entry for today!

I have another sweet Tilda today. I can't believe Thanksgiving is now less than two weeks away! I was in the mall yesterday and everybody is ready for Christmas. I can deal with the decorations but the carols were a bit much. I guess retailers need every ounce of help this year!

This is Peachy Tilda. She's been harvesting her "peaches" for her Thanksgiving pie. Only, I colored them as apples because, I prefer apple pie over peach pie. (wink) She's a little bit of paper piecing, a little bit of layering, and a little Copic coloring. Her dress and boots are paper pieced (stamped on colored paper and cut out). The layered section is her arm and basket over the paper dress. I left a bit of a tab on the upper arm and cut a slit under the sleeve. There's a pop-dot under her basket. So she has a true 3D arm. Finally, I used an old SCS sketch (SC246) for the layout.

Hair: E07, E09, Y17
Skin: E000, E00, E02, R20
Apples: R24, R29, Y02. G09
Basket: Y23, Y26, Y28
Sky/Leaves: Blender, Y000, YR02, YR09, C1
Under Dress: R20, R29, RV32

Stamps: Magnolia PEACHY TILDA; Stampin Up! HOLIDAY BEST
Paper: Bazzill cardstock, Basic Grey INDIAN SUMMER
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copics, ribbon, glitter pen, rhinestones, copper EP, and oval punch.

Please join me tonight and tomorrow the VSN (Virtual Stamp Night)on SCS. The link for the main thread is here. I'll be posting tonight's entries as I finish the cards. And don't forget, I'm hosting the first challenge on Saturday morning!

Glimmer Mist Mini Tag Album

This is the second project I made in the GLIMMER MIST class I did a few weeks ago. The first project was the inspiration board. However, this mini album made of 3x6 tags would have been enough project for the class. Each tag/page was sprayed with a different Glimmer Mist technique. The effects are subtle - maybe too subtle for pictures.

The cover was sprayed with one color (Brick) and then brayered to even out the colors. The wings are Tattered Angels chipboard. The paper rose was also sprayed with glimmer mist very lightly.

The second tag/page was also sprayed with one color (Creme de Rouge) but holding the mister bottle high and letting the color "rain" down and puddle. It gives the look of a lot of texture!

The 3rd tag/page was sprayed with two or three browns (I can't remember which colors) and then rubbed with a paper towel. It gives the look and feel of leather.

The forth page was lightly brushed with white acrylic paint and allowed to dry. Then sprayed with Creme de Rouge. The GM pooled on the paint and was absorbed with a paper towel.

This tag/page was sprayed with 3 different colors of GM. Starting with the lightest color. I think it would have looked better with the use of a mask, but at that point in the class we were an 1.5hr over and I was beat!

Stamps: none
Paper: tag
Ink: none
Accessories: Glimmer Mist: Brick, Creme de Rouge, Creme de Cocoa, Creme de Chocolat), Basic Grey sticker letters, Tattered Angels Chipboard, ribbon, paper rose, Basic Grey pearl stickers, rhinestones, and glitter.

Early in the summer, my sister who teaches on an Air Force base in Italy, said, "I want to take Adam (my nephew) to his first real concert at Red Rocks. Do you want to go?" We went to see Journey and surprise opening band, Heart. I used the mini album to chronicle our night under the stars. My ears have finally returned to normal (I forgot how loud concerts get!) OH! And I'm keeping this album for myself, instead of sending it to Adam. Too girly for him anyway. (wink) And I made him a mini album for his first fishing trip this summer.

Initial Technique

I found a new group on SCS. Craft Secrets has a weekly challenge. This week was to use your initials to select one or two techniques in the SCS Resources section and make a card. I selected D (distressed edges) and C (Cracked glass) for this card. The cracked glass techniques uses clear embossing powder, I used Crackle Accents. After the Crackle Accents dries, gentle bending the paper gives a vintage look. I sponged Vintage Photo over the cracks and over the distressed edges of the papers.

Stamps: none
Image: Crafty Secrets
Paper: Bo Bunny
Ink: Distress Ink: Vintage Photo
Accessories: Crackle Accents, Martha Stewart Holly punch, Stickles, and edge distresser.

Air Force vs Army

I had a busy weekend and that resulted in no cards to share.

Let me start by saying - I AM NOT A FOOTBALL FAN. I had to PROMISE to stay the whole game and not whine about leaving early. (I took my knitting....wink). Fortunately, it was a GLORIOUS Fall day - perfect weather! And after 18 inches of snow two weekends before, we were grateful!

Living in the Colorado Springs area means that our home town "college" is the Air Force Academy. Many years ago we had season tickets to the home games but shortly before 9/11 we had decided not to renew. So, it's been a long while since I was at a game.

Several months ago my mom won two tickets to the Air Force/Army football game in a silent auction. The inter-service games have more "pomp and circumstance" than the regular Air Force games. And while, I haven't been to many college games, I think that the Air Force games are special. Most of the pre-game and half-time non-football events take place in the "AIR". (shocking, I know...)

When we got to our seats I noticed the flag at half-staff in honor of the Ft. Hood shooting victims. We had a moment of silence at the start of the game.

Then with the band playing, a good many of the cadet "wings" marched into the stadium.

After the National Anthem the cadets are "released" and run up into their seats.

Next a small plane flies over and 8 people jump out of the plane. One has the game ball, one has a live feed camera, one has the flag...

...and they all land (or try to land) on the 50 yard line.

Then the fly-overs start. Don't ask me what type of planes these are. It varies from game to game. They're fast and they shake the stadium...what more could you ask for? (Big GRIN!)

Fly over #2 coming over the scoreboard...

...and putting on the after burners. This one looked like a big Lear jet. THEN the games starts!

UPDATE: I've been informed by those in the know that this is a B1.

This is what I call a "Dave and Heather" shot. A friend of mine and her husband take an arms length picture everyplace they go. Not the best picture of me...but good pictures are few and far between. Oh...and that's my mom hiding from the sun.

When Air Force scores - the 1st year cadets all run into the end zone and do a push up for every AF point on the board. Here is 7-0.

And at halftime, the "only performing mascot in the NCAA" flies around the stadium. Some of the cadets practice falconry and one of the falcons will fly around the stadium several times as one of the guys swings a lure. It's a big bird (unfortunately, I never did get him on camera). In years past, the falcon will leave the stadium occasionally. Not to worry - they wear "beepers" and are returned to the "nest".

OH...and Air Force triumphed over Army (35-7).

This weekend is the main event for VSN (Virtual Stamp Night) on SCS. Please join me on Saturday morning, 11ET, 10CT, 9MT, 8PT - I will be hosting the first challenge on Saturday morning. Here's the shopping list. I will be posting my challenge cards here again both Friday and part of Saturday.