Do you want to win a tin?

On Friday I posted the 10th Technique Friday! And I made it a challenge for you. The challenge was to make a project using that technique and then show me what you did. I made it a contest were you can win a tin decorated by me and filled with embellishments and other goodies! Well, here is the tin! The colors are kind of off on my computer, It's not as bright as this IRL and the ribbons match better IRL too. Anyhow, I just wanted to post a pic so you all can see what your playing for! :) You have until the end of day Wednesday to enter the contest.
For more details on how you can win this fabulous prize, check the post below!

Here is a side view of the tin as well.

Technique Friday! #10!!! + Contest!

I can't beleive it's been 10 weeks of Technique Friday's! To celebrate, I'm offering a contest. But more on that later. First, the technique! The technique I chose for this week is so simple yet so gorgeous! The Pencil Over Technique is so simple and easy but gives a WOW result!

The Pencil over technique can be acheived by stamping your outline image onto dark cardstock (I used basic black CS for my card) using white ink. Allow the ink to dry if it is a pigment based ink. After the ink is dry simply color the image using colored pencils. It's that simple!

Here's my card using this fabulous technique:To make this card I used: So Very stamp set (SU), Aida Cloth BG stamp (SU), Flowers and Holly stamp set (TAC), 1 3/8 & 1 1/4 Circle Punches (SU), Basic Black CS (SU), More Mustard CS (SU), Whisper White CS (SU), White craft ink (SU), Basic Black ink (SU), More Mustard ink (SU), Colored pencils, double stitched ribbon (bought at craft store), Dimensionals (SU)

I started out by stamping my sunflower from the flowers and holly set using White Craft ink onto Black CS. Then I colored it using regular colored pencils (you can use any kind of colored pencils). I mounted this onto White CS to make the black kind of stand out. Then I stamped the Aida Cloth BG stamp using More Mustard ink onto my More Mustard CS. I added the double stitched black ribbon and then added my flower piece. It was missing something so I used my circle punches to punch circles out of the Whisper White and Basic Black. Then I stamped the word missed from the So Very set onto the Whisper White circle using Basic Black ink and then layered it with my Black circle. I adhered the circle to the card using Stampin Dimensionals. And there you have it! That easy!

So, now for the contest part:

***CONTEST***
To celebrate my 10th week of doing Technique challenges I decided to do a contest. I'm not going to show a picture of the prize, but I will tell you what it is. *grin* The winner of this contest will receive a fabulous tin decorated by me filled with embellishments! Here's how you can win! Complete a card using this technique and simply post it to your blog (before Wed. May 1st). When you upload it to your blog (or your SCS gallery if you don't have a blog) post it with a link to my blog. Then come back here, leave a comment on this post with a link to where you posted your creation! It's that simple! Post before Wednesday May 1st. When you leave the link here I will enter your name in the drawing. Then next Friday I will randomly select a winner and post here along with next weeks technique!

Tagged Again!

I've been tagged again! *grin* Paula over at Paula Ponders tagged me, and I noticed this morning that my good friend Jen over at Inking Along tagged me a few days ago. (I'm perceptive aren't I?) LOL

So here's how this one goes. I have to tell you 7 things about myself, and then tag 7 other bloggers.

So here goes:

1. There are 10 kids in my family... o.k. before your eyes bug out, let me explain. My mom and dad had 5 kids. My sister, my three brothers and me. (I'm the youngest) Then my parents divorced, and each remarried. My step dad had 3 kids from his previous marriage so that brings us to 8. Then my dad and my step mom have adopted. They have actually adopted 3 kids but my brother got the adoption reversed when he turned 18 so technically there are 10 kids total. LOL If you followed that then you did better then half the other people I've told. LOL

2. I was the vice president of the Drama Club in my 9th grade year. I went to a school where the 9th grade went to the Jr. High cause there wasn't room in the High School for 4 grades.

3. I have been married for almost 6 years. (Wow! Time flies!)

4. My DD is almost 12! (be still my heart, I'm still having a hard time saying that one!)

5. I am obsessed with Care Bears!

6. I hung out with two of my brothers and their friends when I was growing up. It's o.k. though cause they hung out with my friends too. lol In fact they even dated a few of my friends and I dated a few of theirs. ROFL!

7. I have been stamping since Oct. 2001 and I love it!

O.k. now, for who I tag.....

I decided to tag blogs that I have never seen before! I thought this would be a fun way to see new work that I've never seen. *grin*

So without further ado:

1. Stamping With Chrissie
2. Blush Blossoms
3. Sunny's Thoughts
4. Stamping Abundance
5. Territweety
6. It's All About The Journey
7. SSQ Corner

That was sooo fun! I got to see 7 blogs that are just fabulous! Definitely worth checking out again!

Bloggers RAK from Allison!

Check out the cute card I got today from Allison! She sent it to me to thank me for the Blog RAK I sent her for that contest I did a while back. Thank you Allison! I love it! I have to get a cuttlebug now! You're such a sweetie! If you all haven't checked out Allison's blog yet (who am I kidding? Who hasn't checked out Allison's blog? LOL) you have to. Her blog is Stampin When I Can. Thanks again Allison!

Technique Friday (A Day Late)

I know, I know, I'm a slacker! Friday was yesterday and I didn't post the challenge on my blog. In my defense I had a couple of meetings and accidentally fell asleep in between the two meetings. (oops!) So anyway, this week's technique is Embossing, Heat Embossing that is. I remember when I first heat embossed on a card. And I still, to this day, 4 years later find heat embossing cool! Don't you?! Watching this powdery substance become a bumpy shape. It's cool! O.k., I know, I have issues, either that or I'm in a very weird mood this morning. Of course based on my blog entry on The RI Blog, I would say it's probably a good chance that I have issues, and I'm in a weird mood. LOL So, anyhow, Here is my card:It's pretty huh?! I made a card last weekend using the petals wheel from the SU spring mini and I didn't have the color cartridge I needed. My friend Belinda told me to just use the ink pad. Duh! Why didn't I think of that? So I wheeled the petals wheel on my ink pad and used that to make my card. So this morning when I sat down to make the technique sample for this week I decided to try embossing using a wheel. Well, I don't have a cartridge with embossing style ink so I improvised and used my versamark pad. First I pulled out my Adoring Hearts Jumbo Wheel and I snapped it into my Jumbo wheel Handle. Then I rolled it onto my Versamark pad then at a diagonal onto my Whisper White CS. I repeated this until I got the hearts and dots just where I wanted them. Then I sprinkled Sterling Silver Embossing powder onto the CS piece. Then I embossed using my heat gun. (It's a handy little tool! I love it!) After I was done with that I layered it onto Brushed Silver CS and added some white organdy ribbon and some silver cording. Then I layered that onto my Whisper White CS. Then I took the stamp Peace~Joy~Love from All Year Cheer 1 and inked up just the part that said Love and the ~ over it using Versamark. Using Sterling Silver EP I embossed that too and then matted that with more Brushed Silver CS. And there you have it! Heat Embossing!


**** I have a totally rockin' technique planned for next week with a PRIZE! All to celebrate my 10th week doing the Technique Challenges on Fridays! Stayed tuned for that!

Post Tag!

O.k. So I've been tagged! Twice! Today! LOL Guess that means I should probably tag someone else huh? I was tagged by Anne over at Storm's Cellar. If you haven't checked out her blog or her brand new store, you need to! They both rock! Rubber Inspirations is her store. It's awesome! Oh yeah, and she is the owner of A Shade Of Blue. You know, the site that I do the Friday challenges for. *grin* The other person who tagged me is Karen over at Watercolored Dreams. Karen was my Secret Sister, about, oh, I think it was, a year and a half ago. Karen's awesome and does beautiful work. Even though the secret sister round is over she still occasionally checks on me to make sure I'm doing o.k. *grin*

O.k. so, Here's the deal as I understand it, I'm supposed to list my favorite 5 blogs and bloggers. So here goes...

( I would say Anne, Jenn -who was also tagged by Anne- or Karen, but seeing as how they have all been tagged, I won't. LOL)
I have so many favorites! It's hard to choose just 5. See all my links at the right. O.k here goes:

#1 Jen whose blog is Inking Along. Jen is an amazing friend and a totally rockin' stamper! Check it out!

#2 Teresa whose blog is Inkfully Yours. I know you've seen her blog? She's an amazing stamper and friend too! Check her's out if you haven't, and if you have, go see what's new.

#3 Dorinda whose blog is Inky Paper Menagerie'. Dorinda does breathtaking work! She's an awesome stamper and friend too! Check it out! (are you seeing a trend yet? lol)

(O.k. so that's 3 chatter's, I have to name someone else now, even though I love all the chatter blogs but I need to leave these 3 ladies someone to tag too. lol Check out the rest of the amazing chatter blogs on the right)

So here are some other blogs not on my chatter list but are just as awesome! (fyi, the chatter's are a group of gals I have been chatting with for a couple of years on SCS. I don't know what I would do without them.)

#4 Robyn over at I Walk By Faith. Robyn and I met through the RULDS thread on SCS and now we belong to the same yahoo group (which she started and asked me to join for LDS Stampers). She is so inspiring and just amazes me from day to day with her strength and courage. Oh, and she's a great stamper too. *grin*

#5 Belinda whose blog is Belinda's Stamping Corner. Belinda is my good friend/demo/upline/fellow church goer/choir director/ and inspiration. She is a mother of 5, a fellow Army wife and who continues to amaze me.

So, there you go! 5 blogs that I love! (Well o.k so it's actually more if you count all the other links I gave you. LOL)

The other project I was working on

A while ago I was saying that I was working on a project but I couldn't post it because the recipient reads my blog. Well the recipient is my hubby. The last time he deployed I made him a 6x6 scrapbook filled with messages and pictures of family and friends. He loved it and said it helped him so much while he was gone for that year. I decided while he was away at training a couple of months ago, that I would do the same thing this time. So I was working diligently to get it done in time. Well I finished it and gave it to him on Tuesday. He loved it! Here are just a few pages from that book.

Me and DD Dec. 06
Our dog Sirius, isn't he cute!

Me in Apr. 06


The book is a total of almost 60 pages. Opposite some of the pages is a message from that person. For instance, opposite the page of DD and I is a message from DD to DH. I hope it brings him comfort while he is away. I miss you love!

*side note, the page at the top of this post is a picture that was taken over a year ago.

Blog Candy packages revealed!

I can finally reveal the blog candy winners prize packages! I would have revealed them sooner but I wanted to wait until the winner's got their items. So without further ado:

Leah's Package!
Leah wanted something done in soft greens and yellows. I had this yummy paper that I got in a Birthday package from my MIL. It was perfect for this so I pulled it out and covered the notebook. I used the speckled composition notebook for this (you know the black and white ones) I used Modge Podge to adhere the paper and then I added some Night Of Navy CS for the binding and sealed the whole thing with a thin layer of the Modge Podge. Then I tied some ribbon around it to finish it off with a tag. Then I did the cards, check book cover and pen to match.


Dorinda's Package!
Dorinda the little sneak (love ya D!) said to just use whatever colors and to surprise her. So I chose to use Red and Black. I used yummy ribbons on the side of the spiral notebook.
Allison's Thank You Gift!
I don't think Allison has gotten her's yet since the package went to Canada so I will just post what it looks like. I went to my monthly stamp club meeting at my demo/uplines house last month and we made this rockin' Photo Wallets! So I just HAD to make one for Allison as a small thank you. Allison likes Earth Elements colors so I used So Saffron (I know, it's a Rich Regal but it went well. lol) Then I used Really Rust, Basic Black, Old Olive, and Not Quite Navy. I started this a while ago (shortly after I decided to make her a thank you gift) but I had to wait on the mini envies for the photo sleeves. Here it is on the outside:


And on the inside:
Thank you again Allison for being sooo awesome! You rock!

I hope all you ladies enjoy your blog goodies! *grin*

Christmas in April

O.k. this is my last post for today, I swear! I stamped more cards tonight. I decided to start work on my Christmas cards so that it was less work later. Plus it gets me back into the stamping groove which is my therapy. LOL So here the cards I stamped today. The 1st one I did 5 of, and the second one I did 2 of. I went with what supplies I had. I am in desperate need of more cardstock. LOL

As designed by DH

So here are the cards I mentioned in the last post. My DH wanted to send some special cards while he is gone so he asked me to stamp a few for him. The first one he wanted was a B-Day card for DD. So I had him sit down with my book of stamp sets and choose what sets he wanted to use and what colors. So for DD's card he chose Bashful Blue and Barely Banana. The sets he chose were Summer By The Sea, Button Bear and Border Builders. Not sets I would normally put together but this was his card so I went with it. Then he showed me the layout he had in mind. So this is DD's b-day card as designed by DH:



The 2nd card DH wanted me to make was a Mother's Day Card for his mom. So again, he chose the colors and he chose the sets. He chose Pretty In Pink (I added the Barely Banana cause it needed something) and he chose Always On My Mind and Polka Dots and Paisley. (I added the Aida BG) So here is MIL's card from DH:
I told him that he had to make sure to tell them both that yes, I stamped them as always, but he designed them. That makes it more special.

Technique Fridays!

I have been a busy little bee today and forgot that I never uploaded my challenge for today to my blog. Oops!
So earlier this week I was stamping a card at the request of my DH for him to send to DD for her birthday while he is away. On that card I used masking. So I thought hmmm.... Perfect technique for this week! So, this weeks technique challenge is:

Masking!

Masking is sooo easy.

Supplies:
Post-It Note, Scissors, Stamps, Cardstock, Ink

Stamp the image you would like to have in the foreground (very front) of the scene on your cardstock. Stamp the same image on a Post-It Note, making sure that part of the image is on the sticky part of the paper. Carefully cut the images on the Post-It Note out with your scissors. Cut right on the line or even slightly inside of it. Layer your Post-It Note images over those on your cardstock. Stamp your second image over your mask. This image will appear to be in the background. Finish your card! And that's masking! Simple as that.
Here is my sample:I used the SCS color challenge for this too. Sage Shadow, Real Red, Basic Black. The sets I used are Remembering You (Simply Sent kit from SU Spring Mini), and the sentiment is from Brighter Tomorrow. The flowered panel is on pop dots. Give Masking a try! You'll like it!

**Side note--- I am almost at 10 Techniques! This is week 8! I have some goodies up my sleeve for week 10 so stay tuned!

SCS Bloggers RAK Club!

I got my very first Blogger's RAK today from The Splitcoast Bloggers Club! Nancy over at Nancy's Creative Mess sent me this gorgeous card!
I love the use of the scallop punch and the white gel pen to accent the scallops. And I love the sparkly embossed flower! If you haven't seen Nancy's blog you have to! (use the link at the front of this post!) I just checked it out for the first time after I got her RAK and it's a fun blog! She does great work! Thank you Nancy! You made my day!

Technique Fridays!

This weeks technique is Shaving Cream! I made a card for my niece's birthday and so that is why I used these colors. Anyhow, without further ado, here is the shaving cream technique:

Here is what you will need:
Shaving Cream
Reinkers (up to 3 colors, if you use anymore it will start to look muddy)
Stirring Stick (I use a chopstik)
Shallow Tray (I use an empty stamp set box)
Paper Towels


1. Spray your shaving cream into your shallow tray and spread it out
2. Drop 2-3 drops of each reinker color randomly into your shaving cream.
3. With your stirring stick stir your reinkers around in a swirling motion.
4. Once you get your desired pattern take your piece of Cardstock and press it into the shaving cream.
5. Place a paper towel on your stamping surface and then take your cardstock out of the shaving cream and lay it down on the paper towel.
6. Place a second piece of cardstock on top of the one you just pulled out of the shaving cream and squish them together. (this will allow you to do two pieces at a time.)
7. Take another paper towel and in a swirling motion wipe off the excess shaving cream.

You should now have a lovely piece of cardstock. Use it on your card as a background piece or stamp directly on it after it drys.

Finish your card as desired!

I used the Alexa set from Missy B Designs. My sentiment is from the SU set It's Your Birthday!

Color Challenges!

It's the 108th color challenge over at Splitcoaststampers.com! Not only that , but, it's the 2 year celebration for color challenges! Holy crow! So in celebration Emily posted two color challenges that happen to be two of her favorite color combos from past challenges. She also challenged us to make cards for Beate who does the awesome tutorials over at SCS and for Daven who is, well, he's Daven! He's the site creator. They both have birthday's next week so our challenge was to use the color challenge to create Birthday cards for them. So I chose the combo of Kraft/Real Red/Basic Black. I decided to use it for both cards. So here they are:

Beate's Card:

Supplies: Kraft CS, Real Red CS, Basic Black CS, Whisper White CSHeartfelt Thanks Stamp Set, Everyday Flexible Phrases Stamp Set, Circle Punches, Horizontal Slot Punch, Glue dot Black Gingham, Crafters Tool Kit, White Gel Pen, Real Red Marker, Basic Black Marker, Basic Black Ink, (all supplies are SU)


To make Beate's card I took my crafters tool kit and punched holes along the bottom using the paper piercing tool and guides. Then I used my white Gel Pen and faux stitched. Then I took my Whisper White CS and stamped the flower from Heartfelt Thanks using the Real Red and Basic Black Markers. Then I stamped the outline flower using Basic Black ink over top of it. I matted this to Basic Black and set it aside. Then I attached my Basic Black CS to the Kraft Card base. Then over top of that I added my Real Red CS. Then I added my flowered image. Then I attached the black gingham. I decided to use my new circle punches so I punched the smalled circle in Kraft ink and the larger one in Basic Black. I stamped Happy and Birthday from Everyday Flexible Phrases in Basic Black ink onto the Kraft CS and attached it to the larger Black circle. Then I punched the hole at the top of the circle to created the tag using the horizontal slot punch. I attached the tag using more of the gingham black ribbon and attached a glue dot to the back of the circle to keep it from sliding. And Viola! A card for Beate. I hope she likes it. :o)


Daven's Card:

Supplies: Kraft CS, Basic Black CS, Real Red CS, Lovely As A Tree Set, Everyday Flexible Phrases set, Crafter's Tool Kit, White Gel Pen, Basic Black Ink, Curly Brad. (All supplies except curly brad are SU)

I won't explain how I did this one because it's pretty easy. I hope Daven likes it. I'm not wonderful at masculine cards so this was a little challenging for me.

Anyhow, tomorrow I may post photos of the finished blog contest prizes. It will depend on how my day goes. I have a full list of stuff to do so I may not have time but if I don't I will post pics within the next few days. I promise! They are going postal in the A.M.

Hello Readers!

Hello Blog Readers! I know I have been sort of MIA. I'm sorry. My honey has been on leave before deploying again so I haven't been home much. Anyhow, he signed back in to work today. So I actually got to sit down and stamp! I am now all finished with the blog candy for Leah, Dorinda, and the gift for Allison. Those will be going postal tomorrow so look for them at the end of the week ladies! Now I get to start on cards for DH to take with him. From what we have been told, where he is going doesn't have many greeting cards for the troops to send home so I plan on sending him with a stock. And I plan on making cards for all the guys in his company to send home too. I know, it will be a lot of stamping. Fortunately I will have help. Some of the other wives will be helping me out. :o) So I get to teach people to stamp! Yay!! LOL Anyhow, I will be posting pics of all the goodies later. Dh has the car right now and that's where the camera's are. LOL Have a great day everyone!