Feeling so Loved and Friday Challenge #14 , on a Saturday

Sorry I'm a little late in posting the Friday Bloggers Challenge!! You see yesterday was my Birthday and I was very very busy being pampered, flattered and loved!!!! I woke up to find this cute Birthday Banner on my Bathroom door ( I couldn't figure out initially why Jonathon was insisting that I get to the shower so quickly!) I was served a Scrambled Egg and Toast Breakfast compliments of Chef Jonathon!!!! I DID have to go to work, but received lots and lots of Birthday wishes there as well as flattery!!! (most said I didn't look a day over 35...........I wish!!!!).

Later in the evening, I was joined for Martini's and Dinner with a few good friends and of course I enjoyed a beautiful cake made by my Mother's friend Colleen!

So, here I am 43 now and looking forward to many more Happy Birthdays!!!!!


And now for my Card!!! The Challenge this week was to use a Spectrum Pad in our Project. I used the SU! Cotton Cotton Candy ink pad. Techniques included emboss resist (Stamp the images in Versamark ink onto glossy cardstock and roll the bray er through the pad and onto the cardstock. Take off excess ink with a paper towel). I then embossed additional images from the Snowburst set (SU! Holiday Catalogue) using Sterling Silver embossing powder. I embossed the Angel from Heavenly Tryptich in Silver onto Pretty in Pink Cardstock and added additional colour with my Aquapainters and watercolour crayons. The winds and cuff are filled in with white gel pen and I added diamond stickles to the wings. I used the Corner Rounder to create a scalloped border and the Cropadile to add eyelet holes to the middle of each scallop. I layered this onto Metallic Silver Paper that I had run through the Snowflake Cuttlebug. Pink Organdy Ribbon, crimped with the heat gun completes this project! Check My Sidebar to follow the Links to view some other awesome ideas for Kaleidoscope/Spectrum Pads

Definately feeling Naughty!!!!

Well, only really because I have been a little lax with my posts as of late. I am getting ready to have some MAJOR surgery on the 16th of October and have crammed as many events and activities as I can prior to that as I will be several weeks recovering from this one!!! The GOOD news is.........eight weeks at home and SO much time to stamp!!!!!

Anyway, I just love this little Santa from the Naughty or Nice Set, which can be found in the Holiday Catalogue
I used Wild Wasabi as my background paper with Real Red accents!!!!

Do you like his funky little suit??? Paper piecing is regaining popularity and SO easy to acheive. You essentially stamp your image on the patterned paper of your choice and cut out the pieces of the image that you want to use. Keep in mind that smaller patterns work better on smaller images!! Stamp the main image onto your paper and adhere the paper piecing sections to the applicable area. A little shading to the edges of your pieces will give it more depth. I also shades around the main image and under his boots with an Aquapainter and Bashful Blue ink. I used dazzling diamonds glitter on his beard, mustache, coat and hat and Boy does this little elf shine in real life!!!!!

The red layer anchoring the main image is made with the Slot punch, allowing me to thread the Wasabi double stitched ribbon through. Additional embellishments include Ice Brads, Buttons, Linen thread and an image from the Level one Hostess set Party Punch.

'Til next time!!!!

Vicki

Bloggers Challenge Week 13-Dry Embossing

Sorry I'm a little late. This week just had it's way of catching up with me and Flying by!!!! I did have a fabulous time at the Stampin' Up! Regional Training in Hamilton this weekend. It is always So exciting to see so many enthusiastic faces and the positive energy is ABSOLUTELY contagious!!!!! It is a chance to renew and establish relationships with others who love to do what you do!!!!

Did you know that the Cropadile makes a great embossing tool???? If you use the eyelet setting portion of the tool, you can dry emboss two different sizes of Polka Dots!! And we all know that dots are hot right now!!!! You can use the Stampin' up! Matpack template to ensure that you get perfect placement of your dots and straight lines. This card was created with stamps that can be found in the Holiday Mini Catalogue from which you can purchase products only until November 30th.

To make This card, I stamped the outline of the Supersized Snowflake onto Naturals White Cardstock and cut out the image. I then stamped the smaller snowflakes directly onto the large snowflake and sponged the edges with Not quite Navy Ink. I stamped the sentiment with NQN as well to the bottom of the card. I stamped the small snowflake with an image from the Naughty or Nice set, punched with a circle punch and added an additional layer as well as an Ice Brad and double stiched ribbon to complete the embellishment. Mount this on dimensionals to make your card pop!

Using my Cropadile , I added dotty texture to the cardstock.....................this is Fun AND easy....A little Glitter to the line of dots in the bottom third of the card just gives it that little bit of pizzaz that it needs!!!!!

Hope to see you in my Studio again sometime soon!!!!!

I've been Tagged!

By Jeanne over at Inky Paws.

So here goes:

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car) Fluffy Explorer (ewww, sounds kinda kinky to me, but then again, you have to know me!!!! Bwa ha hahahahahah).

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fav ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) Pralines and Cream Peanut Butter

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name)VGAR

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) Purple Polar Bear

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) Ann Pembroke

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) GARVI

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink put “The”) The Black Woody's

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers) Clarence Earl

9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne, favorite candy)

Victorias (I blend essential oils to make my own signature scent) Chocolate.

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ) Alexandria Earl

Who I tagged:

Kristi

Leigh

And for your viewing pleasure ( well , I SUPPOSE it may not be pleasurable if the card is not pleasing to the eye!!!) A quick and simple card using the Define your life and In the Spotlight stamp sets and Scenic Route DP. Navy and Soft Sky Paper as well as Navy Ribbon.

Well, I better go. I am writing an exam tomorrow and am finding reasons to procrastinate some last minute studying!

Happy Inking!!!!

Bloggers Challenge Week 12-Inspiration Challenge

And just in the nick of time, I must add!!!! Whew, it has been a hectic hectic week. What inspires me you might ask? Well actually, this week it is a "Who"!!!! My source of inspiration for this card is one of my Favourite Favourite Stampers............. Leigh O'Brien. Visit her Blog and you will surely see why!!!! Leigh has made the sweetest cards with the Big Deal Alphabet. Here is one of my Favourite samples:


Isn't this the sweetest Baby Card!!!! You can see more of her great creations in her Splitcoast Stampers Art Gallery

Now for the goods on My Card. The Halloween images that accent the Spooky Sentiment come from the Haunting Halloween set that just happens to be one of the sets featured Stampin' Up's Fall Frenzy Promotion

. I Stamped the Alphabet Letters in More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie and Really Rust, then outlined them with a black Stampin' Write Marker. Using the Aquapainters and Neutral Gray Watercolour Crayons, I created shadows to imitate a dimensional effect. I then Stamped the Spider and Kitty Witch inside the letters and painted them with the WC as well. The Little Bat is a Martha Stewart Halloween Punch and the DP comes from SU's! Creepy Crawly Collection. I sponged some going gray around the edges of the White Cardstock and used my Colour Spritzer Tool to add some Black Speckling. Little Dashes and Dabs of midnight Stickles added the finishing touch!!!!

A little more Christmas

This was a fun and simple card to make. I really like to watercolour on coloured cardstock. I find that I get the best coverage with Stampin' Up's Watercolour Wonder Crayons. Essentially by using a lighter background in a similar shade, you can paint in the shadows and midtones and leave the natural cardstock as your highlights.

This card was made with the French Script and Holy Triptych stamps. I embossed the image onto the pretty in pink cardstock with Silver embossing powder and as well, I also embossed the French Script stamp onto Rose Red Paper. Watercolour as instructed and then you can sponge pretty in pink ink over the whole image to create additional depth.

Well that's it for tonight!!!! If I missed anything, feel free to drop me a line!!!

TTFN

Vicki

Killing Two Birds with one Stone

Well, not literally of course!!!!! Not feeling the greatest today, so I took the day of. Slept the morning away and then I had the chance to go online and see what was happening with the challenges. Today's Challenge on Splitcoast was to use Gamsol to colour stamped images.

I was pretty excited about this. I purchased Prisma Pencils well over a year ago and up until about two weeks ago, they made a lovely ornamental display on my stamping shelf!!! What a great opportunity to give them a try.

As I was browsing through the Gallery, I came across a Gorgeous Card by Jeanne Strieff.
Linking to her Blog (see inky paws in my sidebar) I found a very cool challenge that Jeanne and Sherry (Walkin' on the Bad Side) are doing on their blogs...............using Glitter. I thought this cute little Bella Stamp would do just fine. I pulled out my Glitter Stack of Paper that again, does not see enough use and thought it would make a pretty nice backdrop for my Sparkly Veggies!!! The Green Galore Layer is stamped with the leaf stamp from SU! in the Spotlight, as is the Orchid Flower. Paper Piercing, Gingham Ribbon and a little Stickles Glitter to mimic dew on the fruit flowers and veggies completed the card. In the Spotlight is a Level Two Hostess set that can be earned when you host a workshop! For more details, contact me!

Cool Nights..............Cooler Days

Wow!! The weather does not seem to be able to regulate itself at all these days. Yesterday, It was So hot and humid here, I swear that I was going to melt away...................today I am bundled up in sweats a wooly socks!! I can think of many better ways to keep me on my toes!!!!!!

Do you like this card? It is one that we will be recreating in my All Occasion Class at Lasting Memories on Wednesday night. Please contact the store to register for the class prior to Tuesday afternoon as I am cutting for the class on Tuesday evening.

This particular card uses the carved and candlelit
stamps from the 2007 Fall Winter Collection. Images are masked and stacked to create a more dimensional look. I applied the "shadows" on the pumpkins by Sponging Chocolate Chip Ink to the areas that would have shadows cast upon them if the sunlight was beaming down on the pumpkin patch. The Pumpkin on the left is shaded, cut out and mounted on a dimensional to give added effect. The Sentiment is stamped onto the Scalloped Oval and Ink was taken directly to the edges to create some interest. Designer Paper is from Scenic Route.

So, if you are in the neighbourhood this week, drop in and I'll see you at class!!!!!!

Bloggers Challenge Week 11

I am so EXCITED to be a part of this awesome Bloggers Challenge group. Each week, members are required to meet the challenge and post the cards on Friday! If you know me, you will know that I am ALWAYS up for a challenge!!!!! Take a look at my Sidebar to check out the other members fabulous creations!!!! I have already had a look see and I have to tell you, they are all delicious!!!!

So, this weeks challenge, actually week one for me was to create a card based on the layout on Page 12 of the Holiday Mini Catalogue
This card was designed with a colour combination of Old Olive, Sahara Sand, Soft Sky, Taken with Teal and Really Rust. The Designer Paper hails from the Fall Flowers Designer Series Paper in our New Idea book and Catalogue. The Flower has been hand dyed with Soft Sky by using a sponge directly on the flower to add the colour. A good tip for inking flowers is to set your sponge down in the middle of the flower, drawing the ink out toward the edges. This will allow for a deeper gradation of colour to the middle of the flower and facilitates natural shading. The sentiment doubles up as an additional accent to build the flower, the middle of the sentiment stamped twice, punched with a 1/2 inch circle and mounted on a dimensional.

I LOVE making leaves with my Oval Punches . They are very simple to make. I used the Small Oval punch for these leaves, but you can also use the large oval for larger leaves. To do this, I essentially punch the ovals from Scrap paper, fold them in half length wise to create the middle vein and then I Scrunch them up a bit before rubbing them directly onto my ink pad (tone on tone works well for this-the sample uses Old Olive). Then you just play with them a bit until you achieve the shape that you desire! Quick and Easy!!!!

The embellishment in the left hand corner is made with the Photo Corner Punch and embellished with a metal from Memory Makers. The Ribbon hails from We R Memory Keepers Boho Chic Collection!!!!

Hope you all enjoy a Wonderful Weekend! If you happen to be in Kingston, pop by and visit me at the Leisure Show on Friday Night or Saturday! Get you copy of my new and exciting Fall class schedule. I have Lots of Fun Projects in store for you!

Getting Tired of that Silly Bio pic?????

Seeing that I have been a little scarce again, I was figuring that it was about time that I post. I was also looking at that silly picture of myself and wondering if I was scaring you all away??? Anyway I was out and about for the last week or so, getting ready for Back to School for Jon today and truthfully engaging in a little R&R. I was very lucky to be able to complete a lot of Stamping Challenges on SCS last week

This little Santa was created for a Wiper Card Challenge. The excellent directions can be located HERE on Jan Tink's Blog . The cute little Santa and Sentiment comes from the Naughty or Nice set in the New Holiday Mini
You can also purchase the wheel up until November 30th....................

Hope to hop in and post some more a little later this week!!!!!