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!

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.

VSN October Mini #5 - Christmas Tree Trio

The final challenge tonight is PREPARING IN THE OKIYA. Use an acetate sheet to add a layer of white over the main image to enhance but not hide the other image.

I've had this Denami set for a while, but I got it after last year's Christmas Cards were finished. So it hasn't seen ink until today! You cant see the acetate layer in this picture, but you can see where I connected it to the background paper with the ribbon. I stamped the tree part first and then adhered between the acetate and card. Then using stamp positioner again, I stamped the swirl and dots on the acetate!

Stamps: Denami Designs
Paper: Bo Bunny, acetate
Ink: VersaMagic: Turquoise Gem & Aquatic Splash; ColorBox Ruby
Accessories: Ribbon, paper piercer, rhinestone snowflakes, and stamp positioner.

This is the last challenge for the October Mini VSN. You have until Monday evening (8pm ET) to post your cards to the galleries in the links. The main event (2 days of VSN) is November 13th and 14th. I hope you'll play along with me - I am hosting the 1st challenge on Saturday morning!! (Nov 14th, 11am ET (9am MT))!

VSN October Mini #4 - Pumpkin Kitty

The fourth challenge is MASK FOR THE BALL. This is all about simple masking. The trick to good masking is figuring out what goes down first! Hint: Do a rough stamp first on scrap paper to figure out the layers!

The masking went fast after my rough stamp. Leaves, small pumpkin, large pumpkin, and then cat. The cat head is popped up on a foam dot. The card was sponged and water colored with my aqua painter and SU! inks/re-inkers.

Stamps: SU! AUTUMN HARVEST, Inkadinkado CATS
Paper: white cardstock, SU! Pumpkin Pie & Really Rust
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Summer Sun, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust, Ruby Red, Old Olive, Lavender Lace, and Elegant Eggplant
Accessories: Aqua painter, brads, rhinestones, and pop-dots.

VSN October Mini #3 - Spilt Negative Fan Dance

The third challenge is INSPIRATION AT THE OPERA. Find something in the movie PHANTOM of the OPERA as inspiration to create a card. I've seen the movie ONCE (and once on stage) and the only thing I could remember was the chandelier! But she did provide a clip from the movie.

The clip is where I found my inspiration for the card. First, the black/white faces (and costumes). Second, the fan dance at the end. And finally, the pale pink dress of the heroine. The Split Negative tutorial is here.

What can you come up with??

Stamps: SU! Dream Gardens
Paper: Bazzill Strawberry Splash, washi paper, black & white cardstock
Ink: none
Accessories: black and white embossing powder, ribbon, rhinestones, and Martha Stewart border punch.

VSN October Mini #2 - Masked Autumn tree

The second challenge is PEELING AWAY THE LAYERS. Use one of several masking techniques listed in the challenge post.

I used two techniques for this card - Reverse Masking and Faux Tearing. I stamped the Penny Black tree first, then laid the reverse mask over the image. I cut a sheet of typing paper the same size as the card front (4.25 x 5.5). Then cut a window out 1 inch from all sides. Over the reverse mask I added a 2nd layer of torn sticky notes under the tree trunk. Geometric stamps in SU! inks for the "fall leaves" create an autumn tree. The next step was to use a brayer to add the purple layer under the trunk and it was stamped with a darker purple swirl stamp.

Stamps: SU! SIMPLE SHAPES and BY DESIGN; Penny Black FANTASY
Paper: SU! Whisper White
Ink: SU! Elegant Eggplant, Lavender Lace, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, Really Rust, and Old Olive; Archival Black
Accessories: Prima leave, button, and Scrapper's Floss.

VSN October Mini #1 - Masquerading Holiday Card

I hope you'll play along with the Splitcoast Mini VSN (Virtural Stamp Night) tonight! For the next 5 hours there will be a new challenge and I'll be posting my card for the challenge here, as well as in the SCS galleries. Can't play tonight? That's ok - you have until Sunday evening to post your challenge cards at SCS.

The first challenge is GET IN THE PARTY MOOD. Using a holiday stamp create a card for a different holiday.
Here I used my little Hanglar & Stanglar Devil. She's holding a trick or treat bag, but sitting her on a heart, my Halloween stamp is transformed into a Valentine! The heart is from Stampin Up!'s ALWAYS set, embossed in white and then sprayed with Glimmer Mist.

Stamps: Hanglar & Stangler Devil; SU! ALWAYS; High Hopes sentiment
Paper: SU! Real Red, white glitter paper, Neenah Solar White.
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Pixie Pink
Accessories: Copics (Y000, Y02, Y26, E000, E00, E02, R20, RV000, R24, R27, R29, R39); red glitter brads, Nestabilities DOUBLE ENDED TAG, white embossing powder, Glimmer Mist: Candy Apple Red, Starfish, Tattered Rose, glue pen, clear glitter, and scallop edge punch.

VSN - Rock 'n Roll and The Hustle

To continue with VSN card challenges - here are the last two entries I did on Friday night. "Rock 'n Roll" and "The Hustle".

The "rock 'n roll" technique is a very simple one. Using a solid stamp inked with one color. Then gentle roll the edges of the stamp in another color. Here I did SU! Green Galore and Pixie Pink.

After stamping I cut out the pine trees. The pink background "snow swirl" is from Cosmo Cricket's JOLLY BY GOLLY collection. I cut white paper in a curve and decorated with Stickles for some bling.

Stamps: SU! Patterned Pines; sentiment Elzybells
Paper: Cosmo Cricket JOLLY BY GOLLY, SU! Whisper White.
Ink: SU! Green Galore and Pixie Pink
Accessories: Creative Memories curved template, Making Memories FaLaLa snowflake, and Stickles.

"The Hustle" was a simple card recipe: 4 colors, 4 layers, and 8 embellishments. I've had this snowman paper collection on my desk for probably two months or better. The swirl background and printed snowman paper, as well as, solid card stock that matched. The one good thing about the VSN's 45 minute time limit is that you *have to use* what's on hand. The Whipper Snapper snowman was colored with Copics, but I decided I need to invest in some sagier greens. These greens are a bit lime for the olive paper.

4 colors: tan, olive, rust, and mustard - not traditional snowman colors but that's the patterned paper for you.
4 layers: background swirl; snowman strip w/rust cardstock border; ribbon; and snowman image w/brown cardstock border.
8 embellishments: 3 rusty snowflakes, ribbon, star rhinestone (on the pocket), and 3 mini pom-pom snowballs. The mini pom-pom's were airbrushed with my Copic airbrush system with a bit of brown.

Stamps: Whipper Snapper
Paper: Snowman paper - sorry I don't remember the company
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copics, rhinestones, mini pom-poms, airbrush system, rusty snowflakes, and ribbon.

VSN - Tri-fold Shutter card & Kissing

Over the weekend SCS (Splitcoast Stampers) hosted it's monthly "VIRTUAL STAMP NIGHT" or VSN. Once a quarter, they have a full weekend of VSN challenges but the other months it's a mini - 5 challenges issued on a Friday night. The main VSN is November 13 & 14th and I've been selected as a hostess for that round! The theme for both mini's (Sept 25th and Oct 24th) and the main event in November is "MASQUERADE". September was all about "dancing".

The 1st challenge was Chaconne - Dancing in Triple Time". Chaconne was a 17th century dance, but the challenge was a technique called TRI-FOLD SHUTTER card folding. I thought it would take me a good hour to fold and and cut - much less decorate. In fact, it took like 3 minutes to fold and cut!

Here's the card opened up. It was so much easier to make than it looks that I'll have to try again!

All the stamps came from the SOUTH OF THE BORDER set. All colored with Copics and highlighted with Stickles (like the salt on the margarita glass).

Stamps: Artful Inkables SOUTH OF THE BORDER; "Viva Margarita" from Stampa Fe
Paper: K & Company designer paper, SU! Bashful Blue
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copics, Primas, Nestablitites, ribbon, and Stickles.

I already posted Challenge #5 here (my crystal snowflake tutorial). This challenge was "A Kiss Good Night" or to use the Kiss technique. The snowboarder card was "kiss" technique. Using a solid stamp color with a light color ink - don't stamp yet. Then take a smaller stamp in a dark color ink and "kiss" the back of the solid stamp. Then stamp the solid stamp on paper.


The other two VSN challenges tomorrow!

Snowflake Tutorial

A while ago, I showcased a crystal snowflake that I had made for a card with the promise of a tutorial at a later date. I first learned how to make these stunning snowflakes from Anne Wight's Sweet & Sassy blog, but I did make some changes on how I make them.

Choose 3 colors that will coordinate with your project. I always use Stampin UP! Whisper White because its a very smooth paper that allows the sponge dauber to glide easily. I do two area so I can find the perfect area to punch snowflakes from later.

I started with Bermuda Bay and Melon Mambo. Be sure to over lap the colors to blend them. I used Crushed Curry as the 3rd color and made sure to cover all the remaining white areas with some color (doesn't need to be full saturation). In fact, leaving a little less color in areas will give you a more interesting punch area.

Punch two snowflakes out. Move the punch around until you get a mix of colors you like. I use two different size snowflakes.

I also make sure that there is enough difference in colors that you will be able to see the smaller snowflake when it's placed on top of the larger snowflake.

Dab Diamond Glaze on the snowflake where you want the glass glitter to be. The Diamond Glaze is a quick drying glue that will also be clear. Dunk the Diamond Glaze areas into the glass glitter. I haven't tried other glitters for this technique because I like the sharp crystal effect you get from the glass glitter. It's a very course flake - like rock salt (vs table salt). Once both snowflakes are dry, stack with a pop dot.

Off set the arms of the snowflake and if you can, off set the colors so you get more visual interest. On this snowflake I also put glass glitter in the center but you could use a rhinestone, brad, button, or something else to "finish" the snowflake.

Attach the snowflake to your card with a pop dot or glue dot.

Stamps: Stampin UP! EXTREME SNOWBOARDER; Denami sentiment
Paper: Neenah Solar White (aka PTI White), Cosmo Cricket HOLLY BY JOLLY, SU! Whisper White
Ink: Stampin UP! Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry
Accessories: Martha Stewart snowflake punch; Marvy SUPER JUMBO snowflake punch, glass glitter, sponge daubers, Diamond Glaze, and pop dots.