SCS WCMD Sneak Peeks

Saturday is World Card Making Day and SCS is celebrating with a full day of challenges and prizes. You won't want to miss it!

Member Companies are supplying the challenges and prizes. Click on the blinkie on the left side bar for more information. In the meantime, these pics are just little sneak peeks of the two projects that I'll be hosting for the Scor-Pal™ challenge.

In addition, I'll be having a little blog candy contest of my own right here, so stay tuned!


V.~

p.s. It's the first time I've used the SU! Scalloped border punch, what a scraggly mess - I hope it improves! Of course, up close and personal in the close up it sure looks worse than irl.

Foiled Candle Wrap~

TLC = Monday's Try a New Technique over at SCS. Lynn is so great about putting up challenges that stretch the creator. This is certainly a stretch for me - embossing aluminum foil with an embossing folder, plus using alcohol inks. I've had the alcohol inks for years - they languish in my cupboard along with the ink sprays I won in a drawing years ago for a now-defunct magazine.

Instead of using this technique on a card, I decided to make a fall candle wrap for a candle to put out on the entry table. Fall is trying to get here....slowly, today is the first under 90 - 100 day we've had in some time, it's been HOT HOT HOT!

I wrapped the foil around a piece of cardstock like the tutorial shows, dropped on alcohol inks in Rust and Oregano, let it dry, and then embossed the strip twice, once from each end, in order to have the entire strip have a pattern on it. A few more drops of ink after embossing and then I adhered the embossed foil to a cardstock strip.

Oh, that cardstock strip, I finally have tried Gina K's Pure Luxury Cardstock .... WHERE have you been all my paper crafting life? Oh My! Delicious, Delicious, Delicious!

After putting the band around the candle with 1/2" Scor-Tape I started on the focal image. I cut 3 Nestabilities graduated circles; one each from Pure Luxury Green Apple, Pumpkin Spice, and Ivory. Delicious, the only word to describe how this cardstock cuts with nesties! I stamped the sunflower images from Autumn Garden by OCL onto the ivory circle and colored in quickly with Copics. Just a quick color, no worries about blending or staying in the lines or even up to the lines....sometimes a girl just has to break the rules! LOL

After coloring, I adhered the image circle to the pumpkin circle, and then the pumpkin to the green apple with dimensional foam. To secure the medallion to the candle, I threaded olive ribbon (source unknown for sure, but quite possibly Making Memories) through the layers and tied it around the candle. Instead of securing with a knot or bow, I did the first crossover and pulled both ends down before tying off with an unraveled piece of cording.

Now it's time to begin my regular mundane Monday morning chores......

Have a Marvelous Monday!

V.~

Supplies:
Stamps: Autumn Garden by Our Craft Lounge
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Desert Sand (light sponging around image)
Paper: Gina K Pure Luxury Green Apple, Pumpkin Spice, Ivory
Copics: YG95, YG99, Y15, Y21, Y26, YR24
Other: Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Stylized Flowers embossing folder, Nestabilities Circle Dies, Ribbon, Cording, Dimensional foam

Shutter Kids~

I thought this shutter card with pictures of the kids would bring a bit of sunshine to Jay's mom while she is recuperating from surgery. For now it sits on her bedside table in her hospital room, and when she goes home she can display it there. The side panel pictures are first day of school pictures they tolerate me taking every year! LOL Other pictures are from our vacation to Catalina Island and an unseen picture of Morgan making a play in goal.

Papers are Bazzill for the base. Lily Bee patterned paper for the accents. And the stamped clipboard is from Kim Hughes Comforting Hugs set by CHF. I stamped it on the green and paper pieced the white section, adhering just the top portion, so it floats a bit like paper would on a real clipboard. As I didn't want to cover my gorgeous kids I left it embellishment-less except for four aqua brads that anchor the corners of the center sentiment and signature panel. Dimensional foam raises this panel also.

I've had a busy stamping week: 40 cards for PTSA (elem/middle school this time) and designing projects for my next 2 classes at Paper Tales.

Have a beautiful weekend!

V.~

Charming Gardeners~

After seeing these Tri-Shutter cards around for a while I decided to finally make one. (Well, with a little boost from Scor-Pal who asked me to convert it into metric for another Metric e-zine they are putting together.) So I really made a metric one first and made this one in imperial this morning.

I have to say looking at them is intimidating, making one, not so much. The most difficult part is getting the in and out folds down correctly. Having great patterned papers make it easy, too! Directions may be found here Tri- Shutter Card. I changed up the way the front and back panels were cut and made them 2 pieces.

The stamping is simple and straight forward, a bit of 1st and 2nd generation stamping of the floral silhouette on the three image panels. Sentiments on 2 of them, the final one for a personal note or signature. I kept the patterned papers symmetrical, I've seen them with asymmetrical panels, but I like the look of symmetry here.

I have great news! Morgan went back to school yesterday and made it the entire day without a headache. So she is on the road to recovery. Of course, she can't play or practice for a little while longer, but she will be able to go out and support her team from the sidelines. Another team mate broke her wrist in last weekend's game - out for the season.
It's a tough start to the new club season for their team.

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

V.~

Supplies:
Stamps: Nature's Silhouettes, Mother's Day Centers by CHF
Ink: Memento Pear Tart and Versafine Onyx Black by Tsukineko
Paper: Gray by Bazzill, Vanilla by Neenah, Black
Patterned Paper: Amy Butler Lotus Faded China Paper Pad
Other: Scor-Pal, Silver mini brads, Gingham check ribbon, Dimensional foam

Coffee Ticket Box~

Ever since I got this set, Fueled By Caffeine by Our Craft Lounge, I've had in my mind some sort of coffee ticket book, box, something along those lines to create as a birthday gift for my friend. We always say we are going to get together for coffee, and life gets in the way, and before we know it, it's 3, 4, 5 months or more. Life just happens.

And ever since Sunday I've been trying to get this project done....life certainly got in the way this week. I started this project Sunday morning before heading out to Morgan's soccer game. Life took an unexpected turn when she was injured during the game. As goalkeeper, and a fearless one at that, she's had her share of bumps and bruises over the years. Nothing like this last time - 2 ER visits, a doctor's office follow-up visit, and 5 days of missed school have comprised our week due to her concussion and neck injury. 24/7, I am a mom, iykwim, nothing else matters when your child needs you.

Today, while she was sleeping in (she got some "gooder" meds yesterday) I completed the tickets and then designed the box around them.

The tickets are 1/8th of a sheet of kraft cardstock; they are 2.75" x 4.25" and have random coffee cups and a coffee pots in Memento Desert Sand ink scattered about. The coffee beans are stamped down the right side of each ticket in Versafine Vintage Sepia. I stamped the different sentiments in Versafine Onyx Black. The coffee cup medallions are stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Prism Island Mist, circle punched, and mounted on a Prism Suede Brown Dark circle. Ticket punched corners, a strip of Dream Street patterned paper, a bit of sewing, ribbon flags and a month stamp complete each ticket.

The box was designed around the tickets. No template or directions, sorry. I just whipped out my Scor-Pal and visualized what I needed. The finished box is 6.5" x 3" x 1" with a corner rounded flap closure. The same coffee cups and coffee pots are randomly stamped all over the sheet before assembling together. I decorated the flap with Prism papers (Island Mist Med and Light, Suede Brown Dark) and a strip of another coordinated Dream Street patterned paper. A variation of the medallion from the tickets is the accent on the flap. Instead of just having the cup stamped directly onto the Island Mist cardstock, I stamped it onto kraft, added a couple Copic marker accents, trimmed it out and mounted this onto the Prism circle with a piece of dimensional foam. Sewing on the strip, "Let's Do Coffee" stamped in black, and a wide ribbon closure finish off the box.

It's a quiet weekend for us. What are your plans?

V.~

A September Challenge~

Each month there is a sketch challenge on the Our Craft Lounge site, you can find it here:

September Sketch Challenge - OCL 06

I played this morning using the fence image from the Autumn Garden Set.

Here is an upclose shot of the fence line, I used a bit of Blue-Berry Sparkly Fluff on the flowers. I didn't cover them completely, just a smidgen randomly added, this way a bit of the coloring shows as well.

You'll notice that the fence is colored rather loosely; I wasn't concerned with blending the colors out, it's okay to do that!

A Textile Cuttlebugged panel and a piece of 7gypsies patterned paper create the two layers from the sketch. A bit of purple stitched ribbon to coordinate with the purple flowers, purple mat, and a hint of purple in the patterned paper complete the card. I chose to leave it sentiment less for two reasons, one, I am not sure of its intended purpose, yet, and I'm thinking it might take away from the balance of the card.

If you play along, be sure to post in the OCL forum. The winning card/project gets a prize!

Supplies used:
Stamps: Autumn Garden by OCL
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Desert Sand
Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Natural White, Saffron, Suede and Violet
Patterned Paper: 7 gyspies Savannah Collection: Franklin
Other: Blue-Berry Sparkly Fluff by OCL, Dauber, Textile Embossing Folder by Cuttlebug, Purple stitched ribbon, Distressing tool, Dimensionals
Copics used:


Have a great day!

V.~

Let's Do Coffee~

then maybe the mo and jo will flow effortlessly? Maybe?

There are many "things" to do when the urge to create has been squashed:
reorganize, check
browse magazines, check
surf the web, check
play in a challenge

I decided I better play in a challenge to see if I could make something work, because I have already done the other things on the list. So I headed to the Featured Stamper Challenge, after all, it practically makes itself, right? You just have to change a couple things and you're good to go. Well, one would think that, wouldn't they?

I chose a card from Shannon's gallery that was simple, not a whole heck of a lot of stamping going on, to use as a jumping point. I changed the requisite things to make it different; stamp set, patterned paper instead of solid cardstock, and after trying to color several panels, opted to stamping on colored cardstock instead. I also used a different Nestabilities shape as I don't own the one she used. I did darken the rings on the cups with Prismacolor colored pencils to keep them from looking too plain. I slit 2 of the rims with a craft knife so I could slide the cups inside each other to replicate the stacked tea cups on Shannon's card.

Still lookin'

V.~

Supplies are
Stamps: Fueled by Caffeine by Our Craft Lounge
Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia
Paper: Kraft, Celery, Pink, Blue
Patterned Paper: Dream Street Papers
Other: Prismacolor colored pencils, Polka Dotted chocolate organdy ribbon, Nestabilities Labels 8, Craft knife, Dimensional foam

A Thankful Heart~

Is a happy heart. So true!

Stamps: Autumn Garden by Our Craft Lounge
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa, Desert Sand
Paper: Classic Crest Natural White by Neenah, Papaya Puree Dark by Prism, Black
Patterned Paper: Superstition - Midnight Dreary by Tracy Whitney Designs for Dream Street Papers
Copic Markers Y11, YR 12,YR18, YG01, YG25, E33, E99, W2, W4, BG0000
Other: Green mini brads from StarlitStudio, Olive grosgrain, Dauber, Dimensional foam

V.~

Remembering~

Hayden's One!~

A good friend's grandson, Hayden, just turned one. His turning one got me out of my no mo/jo slump to make him a card. Yes, you are seeing SU! here; I have found a significant hole in my stamp images - images for kiddos, especially the youngest of the kiddos. I do have another cute boat by Anna, but that boat was used on Hayden's Welcome Little One card when he was born.
And I didn't want a repeat.....but I wanted a boat image to use......
then I remembered this set. This set was picked out by Brett when he first saw it so many years ago. When I had it out last night he was reminiscing that the robot and spaceship were his favorite images.

It's pretty simple stamping, so I'll just say it's 4.25" square, Boat and Happy Birthday by SU!, uses Fancy Pants patterned paper, Memento Rich Cocoa ink, Copic Markers, a tag punch, a yellow button and waxed turquoise thread, dimensional foam and the Piercing Ruler by Tim Holtz.

I stamped the boat on some tone on tone striped wrapping paper from Ikea and wrapped up his Curious George book inside.


V.~

Hear that?

Me either! It's so quiet here at home as today is the first day of school for both kids; Morgan began her junior year in high school and Brett is now a 6th grader.

Quiet in the mornings again.

Hopefully time for the creative juices to start flowing again (they seem stuck right now).

Enjoy your day!
V.~

Discover Catalina~

I relived our fun vacation over the last couple of days by making a travel scrapbook with pictures of our trip to Catalina Island. I've learned about myself that I am not so much a day to day scrapper, but I enjoy having small, easy to finish, travel or special events books to have out to browse through. So the first thing I do when we get back from a trip is download the photos and immediately figure out what to order through Snapfish.

While the order is being processed I decide on what type of book to make. I contemplated making a chipboard book this time, even bought some 12" x 12" Bazzill heavyweight chipboard to construct a book (can't wait to try that chipboard on another project, it is very thick, much thicker than the "free" chipboard I generally use); however, I ended up finding this Bazzill 8" x 8" scrapbook in my closet for a project that never got completed from a few years back. (whoops, add another to do project to the list).

Rusty Pickle Panama Jack patterned paper gussies up the front (which coordinates much better irl than the photo shows), a bit of May Arts chocolate and vanilla striped grosgrain for the tie (it covers up a satiny ribbon that came on the book, blech, not the look I wanted) and paper covered Cuttlebug Red Tag Alpha letters for the book title. A picture of Avalon Harbor is inside the window.

Inside the pages are simply laid out, using the same papers as the front cover, and are still awaiting simple journaling. That will be an evening project over the next few days, weeks, etc...at least the pictures are locked and loaded!

Enjoy today!

V.~

Clear Skies Ahead~

Thanks you to everyone who expressed their support for this unsettling time with SU! I appreciate it so much!

In the scheme of all things important and what will matter in the long run, it's pretty insignificant, even though it felt so hurtful and personal at the time and has caused a lot of ruckus among so many.

There are things more important than stamps, ink, and paper, believe it or not, and this has allowed me to see that more clearly than ever before about where paper-crafting plays a role in my life.

I will still be crafting, of course, don't worry!

Have a wonderful holiday weekend, enjoy your family!

Packing the box~

Yesterday was a tough day all around for many people in the SU! world - there are many who are struggling with the decision that is best for them, their family, their friends, their business, etc. and for some, not necessarily in that order.

I felt like a black cloud marred my entire day and was glued to SCS reading and re-reading the demo forums and general forums trying to find some sense in it all.

SU! was where I found my stamping feet, where I learned to walk in the stamping world, it's my background for where I am today. It's hard to let it go. However, I cannot in good faith sign something that restricts the who, where, what and how I post, here on my own blog and on public forums, even in my own personal emails and which doesn't allow the sharing of my friends who happen to create with something other than SU! It doesn't feel right or good.

After the day was done and I was exhausted I came to the realization, junior high as it may sound, that it's time to pack SU! into that box in the garage for a while. The new rules they have in place are not something I can sign so my demo status will be coming to an end. It reminds me of boyfriends in school, you went out with them for a while, they did something to hurt you or cause you distress, and you packed up all your pictures and mementos of them and put them away, where they could no longer hurt you. Someday, in the future, you were able to bring out those mementos and talk about them again. Maybe it will be that way again with SU! Time will tell.

eta: A clarification has been made today by the powers that be at SU! They've reconsidered parts of their original and harsh requirements and will allow links to friends blogs no matter the content unless they sell product directly, or to forums or challenges, as long as they do not sell products. It doesn't change my mind and it's a bit after the fact, these things should have been vetted out before they released the initial agreement, but as often the case, damage control after the fact, seems to be a common thread much of the time.

Thank You, Alec~

While we were away one of Brett's friends came over each night to feed and water Riley, toss the ball around, and bring in our mail. Of course we could have just handed him a fist full of 5's and said thanks, but he's a boy who loves the hand stamped things I make, so I wanted to make him something a bit different to hold the money that he earned by taking care of Riley.

I decided to make a wallet that has its beginnings in the Accordion Mini File Folder I posted back a bit ago. This wallet is 6-1/2" x 4" and has three No. 6-3/4 envelopes inside. Instead of cutting the envelopes in half like the tutorial, I just cut the top off after sealing them (a little extra glue applied where the flap is glueless to keep the sides from flapping around). Also, instead of keeping the accordion open and free, I adhered each fold to each other for a tight accordion. A magnet snap closure keeps it all together. One other difference is that no chipboard was harmed or used in the making of this wallet. The DCWV paper is very thick and 2 pieces adhered together make it sturdy enough for a wallet.

V.~

Supplies:
Stamps: Dog from Cutie Pet-Tootie by Kim Hughes for CHF, Thank you from Making The Grade by Kim Hughes for CHF
Memento Rich Cocoa by Tsukineko
Paper: Natural White by Neenah, Suede Brown Dark by Prism, Mustard and Turquoise cardstock
Patterned paper: Pets Stack by Die Cuts with a View
Other: Scor-Pal, Scor-Tape, Copics, Nestabilities, Distressing tool, Dimensional foam, Basic Grey Magnetic Closures, Corner Rounder, Envelopes