Making Swaps

I am almost done with my swaps for the Syracuse SCS Get-Together on Saturday. I thought this picture was humorous!

This is the only cooking I have been doing lately! I'll have to post my swaps when they are done. I don't want to let the cat out of the bag too soon!

Just Buzzin' By...

My daughter Janneke just turned two. Boy, she is very loved, and she had A LOT of thank you notes to make and write! I thought I would give you a peek at what she came up with. She is one crafty baby! :)

This last one has a 'melted crayon' background - pretty cool and fun to do! I'll post all the thank you card versions and details on my SCS gallery.

We've had good weather for a couple weekends now. Seemed like the time to start getting some outdoor chores done. I decorated my van with some Decor Elements. This is the only clean spot on it! LOL!

I thought it was going to be huge and take up the whole back window. I was pleasantly surprised that it made such a nice little accent. Now my muddy mountain biking car has a feminine touch. Hmmm - is the mountain bike next???

VSN Submissions Are Available for Viewing!

I completed the VSN challenges this evening. My mom came down for the weekend, and she made cards with me for half of the challenges. Check them all out in my gallery. There's even a little bit of Janneke art out there! Lots of fun, Mom! Thanks for coming!

Virtual Stamp Night - Viva Las Vegas, Baby!!

There is a mini Virtual Stamp Night (VSN) this Saturday on Splitcoaststampers, 10am-1pm and 6-9pm. This is in preparation for the big VSN on May 15-16. The way it works: at the beginning of each hour they issue a card-making challenge. You have 45 minutes to create your card, and then 15 minutes left to upload your card, clean up, go grab some food, and prep for the next hour. It is super fun, and a great way to think outside the box. It is great challenge to see what you can create with a short time limit. Very addictive too! Hope to see you there!!

P.S. I plan to participate during the 6-9pm hours (and make up the 10am-1pm challenges before the upload deadline of Mon. 4/27, 10pm). If you want to come over and participate with challenges with me, let me know! **See my challenge submissions from the last mini VSN in my SCS gallery, click the green SCS patch on the right margin (date uploaded: March 30).**

5th Avenue Floral Class

Getting tomorrow's class projects complete has been a challenge today. Janneke has been needing to be held a lot lately. Poor Little Bunny! I was able to go on a crafting blitz once Hubby came home. I think this Manhattan style watch is so lovely! Here's the result; I hope you like it!

Quick Post Before Running to Music Class

Thought I would share several ATC swaps I have completed recently. I am anxiously awaiting what I will get in return! I have become addicted to swapping ATCs - it is great to try different techniques in the small space, and it doesn't take up a ton of cardstock or postage! Really fun!

This ATC was for a demo swap for the various punches that SU sells. This is going to make a very nice sampler ring for the punches! I made this using a wooden holder for my ink spots that my husband made and the brayer. Using glossy white cardstock makes brayering SOOOO much easier!

This is for the Knitting & Sewing swap, hosted by Pat (Scraphead) on SCS. I will be seeing her at the SCS Syracuse shoebox swap. This is my first try at using the sewing machine by myself - although hubby did help me set it up so I could zig-zag. I am loving sewing on cards, so I have left the machine out for when the mood hits me.

This one is for the Ocean/Beach swap on SCS. I ran into some difficulty with this one. First the shell stamps were too big for an ATC, so I tried shrink plastic for the first time. My daughter got ahold of them, and the classic ink I used started smearing off. So, either I could be very upset or say it did not survive the 2-year-old field test. So I sealed them with acrylic spray, and that seemed to do the trick. Janneke tested and approved!

All materials details can be found in my ATC album on my SCS gallery. Thanks for looking!

Busy, Busy

Wow, these last two weeks have been busy! Last week was club whirlwind, then Easter weekend at Mom's, and Janneke's birthday this week (today!). I have been busy with ATC swaps, getting ready for SCS Syracuse shoebox swap, and although I told Janneke that she has many thank you cards to make, I spent all PM working on them yesterday. I'll have to take a break to prep for next Tuesday's class when my supplies arrive at the door today. I should have some stuff to share when I finish putting all these things together.

Ha, got to change my profile description, cause Little Missy is 2 today!!!

Projects from the Occasions Mini

It has been a very busy club week, and I am trying to catch up with some card postings (new postings here, on Meetup, and on SplitCoastStampers). I participated in a swap with other demonstrators using new stamp sets and products from the Occasions mini. I have posted a couple of choices from them that are my fav's. But first... this is an Embrace Life card I have been holding onto. I wanted to make this card in club, but I just haven't found time to squeeze it in. I just love the colors!

This set is definitely a staple in my collection.
Stamps: Embrace Life; Paper: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Watercolor Paper; Ink: Chocolate Chip, Black Stazon, White Craft; Accessories: Watercolor crayons (Soft Subtles), Aquapainter, Pretties kit, Artichoke grosgrain ribbon.

Here is my card for the swap (which we also made at club this week). My daughter played with this one a lot, and it is still in one piece (she loves ducks)! I thought this might be a little too complicated for club, but all the ladies made it through. Phew!

Easter slider card. Stamps: Wagon Full of Fun, Egg Hunt wheel, All Holidays; Paper: So Saffron, Kraft, Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla, Delicate Dots DSP (SAB); Ink: Close to Cocoa, Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie, Brocade Blue, So Saffron, Old Olive markers; Accessories: Celery and Bashful ribbon, Word Window punch, Dimensionals, Sponge, Staple.

Here is an Occasions swap card created by Kathy White, using the And Many Mower stamp set.

This one is created by Sarah Wills. I just love this one, and I am CASE-ing parts of it for a Beach/Ocean ATC swap. It uses the Just Beachy set. That girl can do wonders with a pair of scissors!

I am not sure who designed this one - the back was unsigned. This Choo Choo stamp set and coordinating Right on Track wheel are just so cute. I don't have a little boy in the house, but I feel like I might just have to buy this one!

Another One

I can't post all the details I want to post on SCS, so I'll post all the details here. I gave the Retro Coffee Lady another try today. I am trying to come up with my swap prototype for the SCS Syracuse get-together on May 2. Isn't it always the case that the good cards come easy, and the not-so-good ones are a struggle? This is another picture Nathalie sent to me for inspiration:


and the troublesome card:

Although not my favorite card, I thought it was a nice illustration of being inspired by things or colors you may see in your daily life.
Stamps: Sip by Sip; Paper: Brocade Blue, Ruby Red, More Mustard, Very Vanilla, Brocade Blue DSP; Ink: Close to Cocoa, More Mustard, Real Red marker; Accessories: Sponge, Aquapainter, Grosgrain ribbon.

And I think I may have come up with the demo quality swap card. Or my shoebox project?? I guess I am still undecided.

Hopefully you get the feel of the texture on this card. The Baja Breeze DSP is some of the specialty paper - textured paper with a nice heavy weight. I like!
Stamps: Sip by Sip; Paper: Baja Breeze, Kraft, Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP; Ink: Close to Cocoa ink + marker, Baja Breeze, Real Red marker; Accessories: Aquapainter, Sponge, Crystal Effects, Window word punch, 1/2" circle punch, Clear button, Big Shot + Backgrounds I, linen thread.

Rainy Morning

This morning is rainy and dreary. Good time to create a new post and watch "Curious George". Last week was busy with creating April birthday cards, and on Monday I played along with SplitCoastStampers Virtual Stamp Night (challenges here). It was actually on Saturday, but I didn't get time until Monday. My samples are in my SCS gallery (link on right margin). Now, don't be too critical - there is only 45 minutes to design and create each card. It doesn't leave a lot of time for embellishing! But I definitely recommend it! It is fun, and it helps you to think outside your normal designing box!

Here is a birthday card I made for my buddy Diane. We went to Virginia Regionals together last fall, and we stayed in a cabin and had a fire with s'mores! This card evolved from a combo of a couple designs I saw on SCS.
Stamps: Under the Stars, Sanded background, Roughing It (retired), Pines (retired); Paper: Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip; Ink: Chocolate Chip ink & marker, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, & So Saffron markers, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa, Versamark; Accessories: Green embossing powder (retired), Tulip puffy paint, Tag punch, Top Note die + Big Shot, sponge.

And in honor of the cherry blossoms in Washington D.C., I made this card for hubby's dad's girlfriend in the Netherlands. This card was a CASE from the SU demo website, and it is dry embossed with the coordinating Classy Brass template from SU. Don't you love those coordinating products?!?

Stamps: Eastern Blooms, Sincere Saluations; Paper: Baja Breeze, Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White; Ink: Rose Red, Chocolate Chip marker, Whisper White craft; Accessories: Floral Frenzy Classy Brass template + stylus + light table, Taffeta ribbon, Corner rounder punch, Scallop edge punch, Paper piercer + mat.

And finally a little notecard for my niece (don't look, Kaila!). We are going to try this technique this month at club - bleaching. Ok, in my defense, I have to say the bleaching is a little sloppy outside the lines because my daughter had been 'playing' with my Aquapainter, and the bristles where going in 90 degree angles!
Stamps: Embrace Life; Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Apricot Appeal; Ink: Versamark; Accessories: Clear embossing powder, Brown embossing powder (retired), grosgrain ribbon, Aquapainter, bleach.