FM45 Baby Penguins... Cute but Ruthless!

Here is today's Friday Mashup challenge, penguins. I'm going to be late with mine. I'm traveling back from Florida today, and my stamps came one day too late for me to bring them with me. I'll bang something out when I get home... stay tuned.

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge :

1. Make a project using the "Spotlighting Technique".
2. Or Make a project featuring "Penguins".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project featuring "Penguins using the Spotlighting Technique".

*Here is a tutorial on the Spotlighting & Reverse Spotlighting Technique.

So I'm getting around to this on Saturday morning, or is it afternoon? It is still morning if I haven't had lunch yet, right?

I decided to mash it up in my own way... I know this isn't exactly reverse spotlighting, but this is always what I think of when I hear the technique name.

I brayered the background and sponged the ice hills and water. And I used Crystal Effects to give the water some shine.

My cat is sticking to me like glue. I'm getting cat hugs as I type. I guess she missed me the past week. As soon as I put this card down, she stepped in the wet Crystal Effects. *sigh*

Stamps: Zoo Review; Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White; Ink: Marina Mist, Sahara Sand, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie marker; Accessories: Crystal Effects, Silver brads, Sponges, Brayer, Circle punches, Dimensionals, Post-It Notes.

And it is time for the Fan Favorite again! YOU may be the host of our next Fan Favorite challenge. Write up your idea for a Mashup challenge on your blog and link to the Friday Mashup page by February 22. You can also email this information. The fans will then vote for the top three ideas February 23 - 29 and finally vote on the winning challenge on starting March 1.

Thanks for stopping by!

Technique Tuesday on Thursday: Shaker Frames

Recently I made a Shaker Frame card for a blog challenge. Some of the ladies wanted to give it a try, so this was our advanced technique at our recent Technique Class. The little branches from Branch Out are quite the bugger to line up, so I switched to Season of Friendship instead.

This was really a group effort to follow the step-by-step instructions. I'll repeat the steps here:

• Stamp images on two pieces of card stock. Punch out a circle from top piece, and decorate both pieces of cardstock with sponging or coloring you may need.
• If you are matting your main (top) panel, attach now and punch circle again.
• After aligning carefully to duplicate (bottom) panel, trace the the circle with a pencil on the bottom piece for alignment. Attach either a Shaker Frame or foam tape to the bottom piece, around the pencil mark. Without removing the liner on the Shaker Frame, add a very small amount of shaker material, such as mica flakes or Buffalo Snow.
• Attach acetate to the backside of the top piece, remove the Shaker Frame liner, and carefully attach the top piece to the bottom/Shaker Frame, making sure it aligns properly.
• For a simpler raised-circle version, stamp and decorate the main panel. Stamp a second image, punch out with a smaller circle in a highlighted area of the image and again with a larger circle. Attach acetate to the backside to the card stock ring. Attach the Shaker Frame to the main image, fill with shaker material, and cover with the card stock ring.

We did a different image for the technique card, this cute little snowman.

Don't you love his little scarf? His belly is filled with Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

Stamps: Season of Friendship, Button Buddies; Paper: Marina Mist, Not Quite Navy, Crumb Cake, Whisper White Paisley Prints DSP; Ink: Bashful Blue, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Basic Black; Accessories: Real Red taffeta ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds, Silver brads, Shaker Frames, Acetate Sheets, Mica Flakes, Circle punches, Post-It Notes, Northern Flurry embossing folder, Snow Burst embossing folder, Circle die, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sharing a Little More Love...

I was inspired by the photos on the Friday Mashup to create another project. I picked the challenge, so of course I would love the photos.

The two right photos inspired me to create a warm and yummy scene. Yes, I should be packing for my trip while I write this, but I also need a b-day card... What's a girl to do when creativity strikes? Ask hubby to whip up some Sweet Pressed shortbread cookies, of course!

I used Mojo Monday sketch #226. Here's a link to the instructions for making the wax paper wrapping.

Stamps: Morning Cup; Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Blushing Bride, Whisper White; Ink: Blushing Bride, Early Espresso, Blushing Bride marker, Pear Pizzazz marker, Soft Suede marker; Accessories: Cherry Cobbler baker's twine, White baker's twine, Owl punch, Heart-to-Heart punch, Dotted Scalloped Ribbon border punch, Neutrals watercolor wonder crayons, Aquapainter, Sponge, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Scallop Square die, Big Shot, Sweet Pressed cookie stamps, Tissue paper, Wax paper, Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!

SUOC38 Two's Company

Today's challenge at Stampin' Up Only challenges is to pick two colors (plus neutrals) to create a Valentine's Day project. In the process of putting together my club projects, and trying to hit some of the fun accessories in the Occasions mini, my two colors were chosen for me.

The background is smooched with Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz, and the trees have little dots of Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details. Other fun new things we got to try with this card are Hearts Collection framelits, Adorning Accents embossing folders, Twitterpated buttons, and pleated satin ribbon.

My husband was manning the "smooching station" while I was busy with the Big Shot and framelits. It was funny to tell my club ladies to go in the garage to "smooch" with my husband - LOL!

Stamps: Take It To Heart, Holidays & Wishes; Paper: Blushing Bride, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White; Ink: Black Stazon; Accessories: White baker's twine, Blushing Bride pleated satin ribbon, Blushing Bride smooch spritz, Cherry Cobbler dazzling details, Twitterpated buttons, Adorning Accents embossing folder, Hearts Collection framelits, Petal Cone die, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!

Scrappy Monday: Project 52 Restart

I thought it would be a good idea to restart the Project 52 project. I had started a couple weeks into the year in 2011, and with National Scrapbooking Month coming up in April, I'd better get a'move on! So how'd I do last year? 2011 Project 52 totals: Week 51, pages 47. Let's see if I can better that this year.

I have discovered the digital scrapbooking challenges on Splitcoaststampers. Now, they are old challenges, but they are still applicable, right? And an added benefit... perfect project to work on when I'm away from home and only have my limping-but-working-for-the-moment computer.

This page uses challenge DGC02, Color Isolation. This was a painful process for me, learning how to use layers my photo-editing software. I struggled with getting my edited layer to have a transparent background. Well, half a day later, success.

MDS Elements: Fresh Vintage, Torn Edges, Textured; Color Palette: Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Whisper White.

I used challenge DGC03, Journaling, for this next page. Here, the focus is on journaling in another "voice". After I put the photos together, my daughter dictated the text to me.

MDS Elements: Wintergreen DSP; Color Palette: Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Pool Party, Sage Shadow, Early Espresso, Whisper White; Font: Pea Diana.

And this page uses challenge DGC05, Photo to Pencil Sketch. Another challenge, I mean, learning opportunity for my photo editing capabilities.

MDS Elements: Downtown Grunge Kit; Color Palette: Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla; Font: CK Alis Handwriting.

My laptop monitor has basically bit the dust, so I'll call it quits for now. 2012 Project 52 totals: Week 6, pages 4.

Don't forget, you can now try My Digital Studio with a 30-day trial copy. Download here using item #129600.

Thanks for stopping by!

FM44 All You Need is Love...

My turn to host the challenge at the Friday Mashup. I love creating projects using inspirational photos, so here's a few from Martha-bleeping-Stewart. Hope you can join us this week!

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge :

1. Make a project using the "Inspiration Photo".
2. Or Make a project using the colors "Cherry Cobbler, Regal Rose & Whisper White".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project "Inspired by the photo using the colors Cherry Cobbler, Regal Rose & Whisper White".

*With all of our Challenges that have a Stampin' Up! Color Combo, you may substitute any colors with similar ones you have on hand.

My daughter's been bugging me about making Valentine's decorations. The upper left photo reminded me of some decor I wanted to try.

We cut out hearts with the Hearts Collection framelits and the Scalloped Heart of Hearts embosslit, embossed on a few, and ran them through the sewing machine. Pretty easy, although my sewing machine had some issues. I'm sure it's from all the abuse I've put it through sewing on paper.

Here they are hanging from the chandelier.

Now we have to go make more, because she wants her own style and colors for her decorations.

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Regal Rose, Whisper White; Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Adorning Accents embossing folder, Scalloped Heart of Hearts embosslit, Hearts Collection framelits, Big Shot, Sewing machine, Thread.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sale-a-Brate Good Times!

Here's a couple projects we did at stamp club this month...

This card is full of Sale-a-bration products: Everyday Enchantment paper, ribbon, brads, Fresh Vintage stamp set, Stripes embossing folder.... whew! An SAB item can be earned for FREE with each $50 order.

Do you recognize it? It is a CASE of the notebook in the Sale-a-bration brochure, turned into a card.

Stamps: Fresh Vintage, Something to Celebrate; Paper: Lucky Limeade, Very Vanilla, Everyday Enchantment DSP; Ink: Lucky Limeade, Peach Parfait, Soft Suede, Poppy Parade marker; Accessories: Everyday Enchantment ribbon & brads, Dotted Scalloped Ribbon punch, Beautiful Butterflies die, Scallop Squares Duo die, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

And here's a cute little matchbox book...

... with chocolates inside.

The idea was passed along by Tanya Boser, originally from Mike Funke.

Stamps: Take It To Heart, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Island Indigo, Very Vanilla, Naturals White, Twitterpated DSP, First Edition DSP; Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Island Indigo, Whisper White Craft; Whisper White grosgrain, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Fancy Fan letterpress plate, Hearts Collection framelits, Matchbox die, Big Shot.

Thanks for stopping by!