SCS Milwaukee Swap #2

I'm making good progress on my SCS swaps for Stampin' Up!'s upcoming Milwaukee Regional Seminar. Here is my second card.



1. Confetti White card base is standard size; Night of Navy strip is 5 1/2" x 1 1/2"; Brocade Blue strip is 5 1/2" x 1".

2. I used my grid paper to help me line up SU!'s Medallion stamp(Who doesn't love this versatile image?), which I'd inked with my Night of Navy Classic pad. That's the only stamping on the card, though I could add a sentiment to the inside later.

3. For the central accent, I used my just-arrived-today Sizzlits die and my Big Shot. Boy, am I enjoying my new tool. The two smaller scallop circles are cut with the Big Shot, and I used the Scallop Circle Punch for the Confetti White circle. The flower is held together with a brad from the Rich Regals assortment.

A fun feature of the Big Shot is that you can easily position the paper to cut just the portion of the die you want. For example, both the scallop circles are on the same die, but I was able to cut just the one I wanted each time, thereby saving a bit of card stock.

I'd like to give credit to the SCS Challenge forums for the basic layout. When I was cruising around, I found Sketch Challenge 268 (SC268), and thought it would work nicely for incorporating the Medallion image.

Thanks for checking out my blog, and stay tuned for the final installment of the SCS Milwaukee Swap Series!

SCS Milwaukee Swap #1

I'm a bit bummed that I won't be able to attend Stampin' Up!'s Milwaukee Regional event next month, especially because my experience at last year's Minneapolis Regional really exceeded my expectations. Stampin' Up! does a great job with creating inspiring and supportive resources for their Demonstrators.

Anyway, I am participating in a card swap hosted by my friend Jana from Duluth. Swaps are a fun way to get new ideas and to see some products you may not have yourself, in action.

I thought I'd post my swaps here, along with instructions. Hope you enjoy seeing what I've come up with!



1. Card base (5 1/2" x 8 1/2", scored at 4 1/4") is Cameo Coral. I cut the Watercolor Paper in quarters (1 7/8" x 2 1/2"), so that I could make four cards from each sheet. The Pumpkin Pie mat is just slightly bigger than the image panel (2 1/8" x 2 5/8"); the Basic Black mat has the same increase in the long dimension, and an extra 1/4" in the short dimension (2 1/2" x 2 3/4"), to allow for the Scallop Trim Border Punch.

2. Purrfect! image from Pun Fun is embossed with VersaMark and black embossing powder. I used Pumpkin Pie, Cameo Coral and Bordering Blue Classic Ink Pads to add color to this little guy with my Aquapainter. Just squeeze the pad while closed, and some ink is transferred to the lid: there's your palette! If you haven't tried SU!'s Aquapainters for watercoloring, you're really missing something, I must say.

3. I used the spunky Paws Stampin' Around Wheel with Cameo Coral ink to make some tracks on both the left side of the card front and also on the right side of the interior. You might be able to see the paw prints peeking through the punched trim. To get my wheeled image straight, I just used my grid paper. Stampin' Up! also has a nifty Wheel Guide that really helps not only with driving straight, but also with keeping an even pressure on your wheel.

4. One last detail I decided to add (especially since I only needed six cards for the swap) was the Fire Rhinestone Brad. I got these specialty brads when they were on sale last summer, and have really enjoyed using them on occasion to add a little bling to my creations. I positioned the brad using the Paper Piercing Tool and the Mat Pack.

Hope you like my card! (And I especially hope my fellow swap group members like it.) Stay tuned for more; I'm in three swap groups, so I plan to post all of them right here on my little blog.

A Fun Sketch

Over at SCS, my friend susie nelson showed me a card she made using a fun little sketch (SC268). I had a great time putting together this adaptation of her card.



Want to play along? Here's what you'll need:

1) Card base is Creamy Caramel cs, as is the mat for the tall image. I also used Close to Cocoa cs for the mat behind the swirl stamp. The square image is matted with Garden Green. All other pieces of card stock are Very Vanilla.

2) I used my new favorite toy--Sizzix Big Shot for Stampin' Up!--and the SU Texturz plates for the dry embossing on the large VV panel. I added color around the edge by sponging with both Creamy Caramel and Close to Cocoa Classic inks.

3) The swirl from Baroque Motifs and daisies from Upsy Daisy are both stamped in Old Olive Classic ink, with more Old Olive sponged around the edges.

4) It was fun to pull out my Heat Tool, VersaMark ink and Gold Embossing Powder to create the main (albeit smallest) focal image for the card. The sponging there is Close to Cocoa.

5) Check out the Masterpiece Ribbon Originals pack to find this fancy ribbon. Sometimes I like to conserve and fasten the ends of ribbon behind a panel on the front of the card, but here I just went whole hog and wrapped this beautiful design all the way around the card front. For that reason, I cut my card base sideways (cut at 4 1/4" and scored at 5 1/2").

Hope you like my card! Please leave a comment, and of course let me know if you "need" any stamping supplies! Remember, Sale-A-Bration runs through the end of this month--that's FREE stuff with every $50 purchase (plus extended Hostess Benefits, too).

Olympic VSN Silver Medalist

Yea! I'm so happy to tell you that one of the cards I made for the recent Virtual Stamp Night (VSN) on Splitcoast was a winner. The card (see previous post), using the Rolling Marble Technique, was a "Silver Medalist" for the curling-themed challenge.

The Rolling Marble technique is easy and fun, and it is a great alternative to stamping or dsp for making a unique background.

For my card, I used a nice bright color combination: Yoyo Yellow, Orchid Opulence and Rich Razzleberry. I layered the marbled and stamped Glossy White piece on yellow, and put the whole shebang on an Orchid card base.

The stamping for this card was super-simple: just the Medallion stamped in Orchid on top of the marbled bg.

I'm quite proud that my card was chosen as a winner, but I'm even more excited that I saw cards from Trina (mnfroggie) and her mom, Jackie (m&msgradma) on the podium, too! There is a sub-thread in the VSN forum where all of the winners are listed. Check them out for some great inspiration!

Virtual Stamp Night

I've blogged before about the great supportive website, www.splitcoaststampers.com. This weekend is Virtual Stamp Night--Olympics! I'm pretty busy, but am finding a chance here and there to complete a few of the challenges.

If you've never played in a VSN before, I encourage you to try it out. The idea is simple: every hour, a new challenge is posted, complete the challenge in 45 minutes (no official "start time"), and then post your entries by the date/time specified. Usually, that's 10:00 PM ET on the Sunday night.

These challenges are great fun, and are a super way to help you focus on getting the job done. You'll be amazed at what you can accomplish in less than an hour!



Here's a card I made this afternoon for a challenge with a "Curling" theme. It uses the Rolling Marble Technique and SU!'s Medallion stamp.












The Grateful Giraffe card with one of my favorite color combinations (Always Artichoke, So Saffron and Elegant Eggplant) was for a sketch challenge. Can you see the inukshuk?



I earned the "Animal Stories" stamp set FREE with a $50 order earlier this month. There are so many options for Sale-A-Bration freebies this year. And, speaking of SAB, I notice that the other two stamp sets on this card ("Define Your Life" and "Defining Alphabet") are both sets I earned as a Demonstrator from sales and recruiting during 2009 SAB. I'd love to answer your questions about what it's like to be a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator--now is a great time to join!





The blue sky and white snow of a clear, cold winter day is the inspiration for this color challenge. I made this sympathy card to send to the family of a church member who passed away this week.



The "Close as a Memory" stamp set seems to look good in whatever color I decide to use that day. Today it was three shades of blue: Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue and Night of Nave.

Stampin' Up! Supports TCGIS!

I am PROUD to be an Independent Demonstrator for Stampin' Up!, a company which puts people first in many ways. Check out the Twin Cities German Immersion School's Maskenball Silent Auction website (http://tcgispto.org/maskenball2010/auction/index.php?item=068) and see the generous basket of stampin' goodies donated by Stampin' Up!

Since these products are discontinued, you won't be able to order them, so this is a great chance to get some great products--stamp sets, papers, inks, embellishments... There is an estimated $350 of product offered! Bid now!

Thanks to Heidi Z.for letting me know about this great way that SU! is supporting our local community.

Interested in joining my small and easy-going team of demonstrators? It is Sale-A-Bration season at SU!, and it is the best time of year to join. Contact me for details; I'd love to answer your questions.

Scones!

I've promised the recipe, and here it is at last. Giving credit where credit is due, I'd like to note that this recipe is adapted from "Joy of Cooking."

Classic Cream Scones

Pre-heat oven to 400F.

Stir together in a medium bowl with a fork:
2 C all-purpose flour (option: substitute 1/2 C whole wheat flour for some of the white flour)
1/3 C granulated sugar (this can be reduced to 1/4 C)
1/2 t salt
2 t baking powder

Add 1/2 C of fruit, nuts or chocolate if desired. (Currants, mini chocolate chips, dried cranberries, white chocolate chips, orange zest ...).

Pour most of a pint of whipping cream into bowl, and stir with fork until moistened.

Scoop batter onto baking sheet (I use my Pampered Chef Large Scoop), sprinkle with crystal sugar if desired. Bake 12-15 minutes, or until lightly browned and a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool on wire rack or serve warm.

I've served these scones and Banana Chocolate Chip muffins at many a Morning Stampers Meeting, to critical acclaim. I'd love to hear your snack tales!