Random Acts of CHRISTMAS Kindness

I don't pick-up my mail everyday. When I work from home, I don't generally go to the mailbox at the end of the street. Yesterday, I picked up several days of mail. I've been getting some really beautiful cards from stamping friends, but yesterday I got a gift that literally made my mouth drop open!

Tammi (she has a fabulous blog called TROPICAL DREAMS) and I have traded Hanglar & Stanglar images through the SCS Wish RAK group for a while now. Hanglar and Stanglar is a Swedish company that doesn't sell out side of Sweden or Norway, so the stamps are VERY HARD to come by on this side of the "pond". I have a Norwegian source, who will help me get these cuties. I'm not sure of Tammi's source. But we generally seem to have different stamps.

Tammi has posted this darling card on her blog a few days ago. This picture just doesn't do justice to the card. The coloring is just INCREDIBLE. I think she does watercolor pencils and Gamsol (mineral spirits). The Gamsol makes the colors very soft and subtle. And the vintage-y colors really are yummy.

In addition to the fabulous card was this mini accordion folder. Tammi had posted a similar one to her blog but again...this is just so detailed! The little Santa hat was an addition over the H&S image. And the whole card just sparkles with glitter! (Glitter is ALWAYS good!)

And if that wasn't enough, inside the folder were tucked stamped images of more Hanglar & Stanglar images for me to color. I'm in H&S heaven!

Tammi! Thank you so much - you really, really made my day!

Happy Birthday Jessica!

My niece, Jessica, celebrated her 22nd birthday on Friday (yes, the one getting married in a few short weeks). But the card didn't show up on time, so I've been waiting to post it. I hope it's there now Jess!

I did this card as a challenge piece for the Wish RAK November sketch. I used 2 images (Tilda and the Cherry Colander) that I received as Wish RAK's (random acts of kindness). Colored with COPICS and glitter pen (what would I do without my glitter pen?) Inside I made a little slot for a gift card.

Stamps: Magnolia, Lockhart Stamps, and AMuse sentiment
Paper: Real Red, SU! Summer Picnic
Ink: Memento
Accessories: Copics, punches, and gingham ribbon.

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.

Alice in Wonderland

It's been a cold, blustery weekend. BUT! It's been warmer in the mountains west of Colorado Springs than in the Springs. Yesterday, I left home to go to an Archiver's class (10 Little Tags - really fun!) and it was 36-degrees and sunny. Before I got half-way down the mountain I had driven into fog/rain and it had dropped to 19-degrees. Fortunately, I got home before it all turned to black ice. It's been a mess this morning!

Did you know that October is National Book Month? And Oct 6th is Mad Hatter Day? Neither did I until the 3rd October challenge from the SCS Wish RAK group.

Challenge #3 is a sketch challenge, but in honor of Mad Hatter day I had to get out my Oxford Impression CLASSIC ALICE set. The background is the same technique from Technique Junkies that I used for my Fluffle Vampire: CREATEX CREATIONS. Createx is an airbrush paint. I'm not sure what makes it different from other paints but these ridges only seem to appear with Createx. This time I used gold and red, which is always stunning on black glossy paper. The Alice images are stamped in Memento and then watercolored with my aqua-painter and SU! re-inkers. I think it keeps the pen and ink drawings "original" - even if they weren't originally colored.

Stamps: Oxford Impression CLASSIC ALICE
Paper: SU! Basic Black & Real Red, glossy black card stock, Neenah Solar White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: SU! reinkers, aqua pen, and nail-head rhinestones.
Technique Junkies: Createx Creation

I've been working on a lot of "future" projects that I can't share right now. I have some deadlines looming right now but should be back to the "daily" post soon. Stay warm! (or cool!)

Copic Pumpkins

It's been a Copic kind of day. First thing this morning I took "Copic Christmas" at Archiver's. Cute cards but if you're looking to learn Copic coloring techniques this is not the class for you. There are no techniques taught.

This afternoon, I've been working on some challenge cards.

This card combines two challenges: "COPIC CHALLENGE" and Beate John's "FRESH & FUN". Copic challenge is PUMPKINS. Fresh & Fun is the card sketch (WSC100) below. I cut 3 layers of Nesties. The bottom layer is stamped with glue and covered with an orange glitter. The pumpkins were stamped and then cut out. I made masks to cover the pumpkins and a strip of torn paper to air brush the "sky" and "ground". The largest pumpkin was colored on a second sheet and then pop-dotted. The edge of the orange flower was brushed with glue and then dipped in the glitter.


Stamps: Inkadinkado ALL HALLOW'S EVE
Paper: Cosmo Cricket
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, glue pad
Accessories: Copics markers (Y17, YR04, YR07, YR09, BV000, V15, and E35) & air brush, Primas, Nestablitites, and glitter.

This was another challenge for the monthly Wish RAK group on SCS. Challenge #1 was yesterday's coffin (a Halloween card in a non-traditional size and/or shape). This is #2 - a card in PINK for Breast Cancer Awareness month. The image was a Wish RAK. The background is a Technique Junkie's method from the new CD#7 Bonus section: Compressed Sponge.

Stamps: My Favorite Things THINK PINK
Paper: glossy white cardstock
Ink: SU! Pixie Pink, Pink Pirouette, and Pink Passion
Accessories: SU! markers, Primas, and ribbon.
Technique Junkies: Compressed Sponge

Halloween Treat - Surprise Inside!!

When I giggle over a project, I know it's cute! This one makes me giggle.

I read a variety of blogs and this one caught my eye last week - STAMPING INSPIRATION. The little coffin treat bags were so cute I needed to give it a try. I followed Marie's general cutting and folding directions for the basic card. On the front of mine card I used Technique Junkies' CREATEX CREATIONS technique to give me a swirly paper.

The surprise is inside where the little vampire FLUFFLE floats towards you when you open the card. I used a thin strip of acetate to make him hover over the coffin. Instead of using Velcro dots to keep the coffin closed, I used Basic Grey magnets. The little ribbon pieces just help pull open the card.

Stamps: Stampendous Vampire Fluffle, Amuse Sentiment
Paper: SU! Basic Black, glossy black card stock, acetate
Ink: SU! Pumpkin Pie and Elegant Eggplant
Accessories: SU! markers, Createx airbrush paint, Basic Grey magnets, ribbon, and scollap punches.
Technique Junkies: Createx Creation

Random Acts of Kindness

I'm in a group on SCS, where you can post "wishes" for images or products. Which keeps me from buying EVERY stamp I see. (grin) Somebody else in the group will fulfill my wish, if they have the stamp. I earn wishes by filling other member wishes - RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS (Wish RAK). Every month one of the group leaders posts 3 challenges. The only rule is that you must use one of your Wish RAK gifts. These are my entries for the month.

This challenge was to use 1/4 cup of rice in a plastic bag or balloon as a "stamp" to make a background. I tried to follow the directions (really I did) but it was just a big mess. So I improvised. I used embossing ink and clear EP with the rice stamp. After it was heated and set - I sprayed Glimmer Mist on the paper to make this INCREDIBLE background. The picture does *NOT* do it justice. The white dandelion on black was my wish RAK. To finish I put the round Denami HAPPY BIRTHDAY sentiment and a few rhinestones.

Stamps: dandelion (Penny Black?); sentiment Denami Designs
Paper: Neenah Solar White (aka PTI white), black, olive green, and aqua cardstock.
Ink: White, SU! Bermuda Bay and Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: Glimmer Mist: Patina, Olive Green, Sapphire; rhinestones, clear EP, and round punches.

The hostess was inspired by the apple harvest in Michigan to create this color challenge: SU! Real Red, Barley Banana, and Certainly Celery (or Old Olive). I was inspired to use apples too! This EDWIN stamp was the Wish RAK (I think he looks like my nephew in his glasses). I colored Edwin with Copics. His sweater was colored and then using a wash cloth and blending solution I dabbed the sweater to give it texture. It really does look "fuzzy". I used this week's SCS Sketch Callenge #247. The apple core is punch art inspired by Julia Bettencourt. Red and cream cardstock is punched with SU! Rounded Tab punch. The cream is brushed with Creamy Caramel. The red is cut with decorative scissors. The seeds are Denami Raindrops. The sentiment is in a great set from Stampendous called LITTLE FRUIT. Die cut with my Nestabilities Labels and sponges with Summer Sun.

Stamps: Magnolia EDWIN, Stampendous LITTLE FRUIT, Denmani RAIN DROPS
Paper: SU! Real Red, Old Olive, and Barely Banana; SU! designer
Ink: SU! Summer Sun, Real Red, Creamy Caramel
Accessories: EK Success border punch, SU! Rounded tab punch, Fiskar scissors, Crystal Effects, Nestabilities, twine, and Copics.


The final challenge was a sketch. I just got the new Basic Grey's EERIE paper and I had to use it! The dotted paper and strip were busy enough not to need additional enhancement. The mummy (Wish RAK) was colored with SU! markers. And then I used my SU! color spritzer to give him a confetti background.

Stamps: Stampendous CHANGITO
Paper: Basic Grey EERIE
Ink: none
Accessories: Martha Stewart web border & corner punch, Making Memories label, SU! Markers, SU! color spritzer, and rhinestones.