Mmm, mmm, mmm! I love me some Ippity!!! Here is a card that I made for SSC's Stamp & Scrap Corner group. The challenge was to use a card featuring the "Spotlight Stamping" Technique. I have included a photo tutorial below :)

"There is No Remedy For Love":


Supplies Used:
Cardstock: Unknown (using up scraps); Neenah
Patterned Paper: MME
Stamps: Ippity
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko); Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink (Ranger)
Rhinestones: Kaisercraft
Ribbon: Darice
Other: Pop Dots; Copic Markers (V17, V15, V12; BG02, BG01, BG000; YG03, YG01, YG00; R85, R83, R81; R29, R27, R24; YR09, YR07, YR04)

"Spotlight Stamping" Technique Tutorial:

STEP 1: Stamp 2 identical images with Memento Tuxedo Black ink (I use this because I color with Copics).


STEP 2: Take one of the images and color a portion that you would wish to highlight.

STEP 3: Use a punch to cut out the part of the stamped image that you have chosen to highlight. You can use either a circle, a square, an oval, hexagon...whatever shape you wish. I like to turn the punch upside down so I can see where the punch will cut.

STEP 4: Mat the colored stamp punch with dark cardstock to help it pop.

STEP 5: Add pop dots to the back of the newly matted image to give it extra dimension (this step is optional).

STEP 6: Carefully line up your punched piece of the image with the uncolored full image and adhere.

STEP 7: Your image is finished and ready to be used on your project.

Wednesdays are fabulous! I only work 7 hours and today is my birthday, so it is dinner and cake this evening :) I love to mix cake with ice cream....Ice Cream Soup...it is the only way I eat cake :) If I remember, I will take a picture of it for you. Yum!

Do you have the right kind of Chemistry?

Today we have a Chemistry lesson scheduled ;) This was my other challenge from the Back 2 School Crop at SSC. The "assignment was to use the Period Table of Elements pictured below, pick one element and use the letters of its symbol to create a formula for your layout, card or project.

Examples:
He = Helium
The letter H = "Happy Birthday" sentiment
The letter e = Elegant style

Zr = Zirconium
The letter Z = Zoo theme
The letter r = Rhinoceros

Your letters can stand for colors, themes, sentiments, products, manufacturers, techniques, actions, things...truthfully just about anything! See how we went from hard to super easy?

Periodic Table of Elements:



link for a closer look:
http://tonypritchard.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/periodic_table_of_elements.jpg

My sample, "Merci":

For our class sample I tried to choose something hard so that you can see it only looks hard, but it truly isn't. I have done a compound, NaCl, Sodium Chloride, also know as Table Salt.
My formula is:
N = Nature...the tree branch and overall card theme
a = Animal....bird stamp
C = Cording...I used some twine cording to make a nest
l = Leaves...I used patterned paper with leaves on it

Supplies Used:
Card: DCWV Textured
Cardstock: Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up
Ribbon: Stampin' Up
Stamps: Stampin' Up; Inkadinkado
Ink: Versamagic Dew Drop Jumbo Java (Tsukineko)
Die Cut: Branches (Quickutz Revolution)
Rhinestone: recycled from clothing
Cording: Stampin' Up
Other: Pop Dots

Our prize sponsor for the month is Catherine Pooler, a Stampin' Up demonstrator and Design Team Sistah. If you are interested in purchasing from Catherine, please visit her website at:
http://www.catherinepooler.com/

Hope you all have an fabulous day!!!

Shop class...

this card is from SSC's Back 2 School Crop that we hosted a couple of weekends ago. It was an awesome time! I hope 2 "periods" to "teach". They were Shop class and Chemistry Class. Today is the Shop class sample. I will share the Chem sample tomorrow.

The "assignment" (challenge):

You must make a card, layout or project that includes some type of metal AND an item found in your home.

Some ideas for you to spin off of:
nuts, bolts, washers, screen, safey pins, hat pins, clock hands, staples, paper clips, metal sheets, bottlecaps, etc.

The sample..."Happy Birthday":

My metal is the craft sheet metal that I embossed and my item from the home is the Lugnut for the butterfly's body.

Supplies Used:

Card: Michael's

Cardstock: Unknown (using up scraps)

Patterned Paper: Rogue de Garance (Sandylion)

Craft Metal: Walnut Hollow

Bottlecap: Darice

Stamp: Heidi Swapp

Ink: Stampin' Up orange

Punch: Martha Stewart

Die Cuts: Nestabilities Labels 8 (Spellbinders)

Embossing Folder: Tim Holtz Texture Fade Regal Flourish (Sizzix)

Other: Arcylic Paint (Making Memories); Dymo Labeler; Lugnut; Silver Leafing Pen (Krylon); Copic Markers (B05, YR09 and YG03)

I will be doing a tutorial on enbossing and coloring metal next week as well as how to use metal strips in your labeler

Hope you are all having a fabulous Monday! It is rainy with no sun here, but it is perfect napping weather...which is exactly what I plan to do when I get home :)

Deck the Halls....

with owls in sweaters...fa la la la la, la la la la....huh? Oops! Wrong song ;) I just love to make up my own words to songs...then I sing them to the dog...and he loves them...how is that for loyalty? Can't beat it :)

The card that inspired the song...ha ha ha...

"Merry Christmas":

Supplies Used:

Card: Office Depot (cut to size)

Cardstock: Neenah; Unknown (using up scraps)

Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up

Stamps: Hero Arts

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko); Barn Door Distress Ink (Ranger)

Ribbon: Stampin' Up

Buttons: Foof a La

Other: Xmas Red Stickles; Copic Markers (Owl- E18, E17, E15, E13; Owl Eyes- YG00, YG0000; Beak- Y15, Y13, Y11; Sweater and Berries- R29, R27, R24, R22)

Are you starting your holiday cards yet? I have 2 done...I will probably end up buying them again this year...gasp! I know, I know....lol! Naughty card maker! Shall I expect coal this year in my stocking? As long as I can color with it, I'll be ok :)

Home sweet home...

I would never deny it....I am a homebody, as they say...I just love being at home with my dog...in my pj's...with glitter on my face, paint on my hands and pop dots in my hair...true statement, by the way ;) I work around 50 hours a week, give or take a few and more so during the holidays. Part of me wishes I could stay home and craft all day, but we know that would never happen. There are always things to do around the house. I am blessed to have a job....and blessed yet again because it is one that I love. How else am I going to pay for this nasty little scrapbooking product addiction that I have? Ha ha :)

Here is one for all of the homebodies out there:

"Home is Where the Heart Is":

Supplies Used:

Card: Made from cardstock scraps

Patterned Paper: MME

Cardstock: Unknown (using up scraps)

Stamps: Inkadinkado; My stamp Box

Punch: Scallop Border for the roof (Stampin' Up)

Rhinestones: Kaisercraft

Other: Fringe Scissors for the grass (Martha Stewart)

It is a long work day for me today and I am already missing be snuggled up in bed. I think this calls for an immediate nap when I get home. It is Mike's bowling night and Badabing and I love to nap without the extra snoring....lol :)

Monday Margaritas...or any other day that ends with 'Y'...

**SPAMMERS PLEASE FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO!!! I moderate ALL comments and yours will NOT make it through!!!!**

Where did the weekend go??? Holy cow...time really IS moving fast!!! I am vowing to be a better blogger....even if just for the week ;) Ha ha! Let's ring in Monday with a good old fashioned Margarita card...tee hee :)

"It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere":

Supplies Used:

Card: Office Depot

Patterned Paper: Rouge de Garance (Sandylion); MME

Cardstock: Neenah; Unknown (using up scraps)

Stamps: Unity

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)

Alpha letters/Numeric: Making Memories; American Crafts

Flower: Prima

Rhinestones: Darice

Punches: Scallop Border and Spiral Punch (Stampin' Up)

Other: Zig Pens; Ruler; Sequin; Copic Markers (Kiwi- YG13, YG03, YG01, YG00, YG0000; Kiwi Skin- E17, E15, E13, E11; Blender- C5, C3, C1, C0; Daquiri- R29, R27, R24, R22)

Close up of the Rhinestones:

These were colored with Copics to match the stamped image (also colored to match were the flower and the American Crafts vinyl Thicker). You can also see that the limes are actually kiwis....I guess I was in the mood for a Strawberry Kiwi Daquiri instead of a Margarita...yum!

Here is a little mini tutorial that I did for SSC's Back 2 School Crop...

TORN NOTEBOOK PAPER TUTORIAL:

STEP 1:
I have used the Stampin' Up spiral punch to make my "holes". If you do not have one of these, then you can use a hole punch on the edge all the way down the left side of the paper and then tear them in the middle of each hole to give the same look. I used white paper, but, of course, you can use any color that you want :)

STEP 2:
Use a ruler and a fine tip black or blue pen I used back so it would photograph well) to make your lines. Mine are a 1/4" apart. Continue to the end of your chosen length of paper.

STEP 3:
Using your ruler again and a red fine tip pen, make 2 lines vertically down the left side of your paper, connecting the horizontal lines, for your margin. I just eyeballed this one, but you can make them about 1/16" apart.
NOTE: You can switch step 2 and 3 depending on how what is more comfortable for you.

STEP 4: Your finished paper is ready for your special message :)

Easy Peasy eh? Now you can pass notes all over the house and in any size that you want :) Hope you all have a fabulous Monday!!!

A card for my hubby...

This is a card that I made a few weeks back for one of SSC's Copic Challenges (coloring Red/Auburn hair) and one of TGF's FFF Challenges (you had to use TGF stamps, I chose Wendy, and include your favorite number, mine is 29 in the upper left corner of the book card stamp). It is for Mike...in case you couldn't guess ;)

"Our Story is Never Ending":

Supplies Used:

Card: Michael's

Patterned Paper: Unknown (using up scraps)

Stamps: Wendy from the 'Never Ever' set(The Greeting Farm); Ippity

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko); Distress Inks Antique Linen and Old Paper(Ranger)Other: Copics; Mini Staple (Tim Holtz); Adage Ticket(Tim Holtz); Alphabet Stickers (Making Memories); Zig Pen

I have no idea what is wrong with this spacing....GRRR!!! I need to learn more ins and outs in this blogging world ;) Happy Friday to you all!!!!

Blogging...

wow! I really need to get my butt into gear with this! My work schedule has increased as this is our busy season, so I am truly wiped out until I get adjusted. This happens every year...thankfully it doesn't take long...I hope ;)

I have found quite a few photos on my computer of cards I have not yet shared. Here is one that I made for my mom...just because she is one of the greatest people and blessings in my life. I love you Mommy!

"Mommy U Rock":



Supplies Used:
Card: Michael's (cut down to size)
Patterned Paper: Reminisce
Cardstock: Unknown (using up scraps)
Stamps: Close To My Heart
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko); Fired Brick Distress Ink (Ranger)
Embossing Folder: Swiss Dots (Cuttlebug)
Other: Button; Twine (darice); Dymo Labeler; Chipboard Letter (Heidi Swapp)

Hope you are having an awesome Thursday! Can you believe tomorrow is Friday already? I have so much to do to catch up this weekend...DT work, TONS of house related things, grocery shopping,

Long time no see...

WOW! It has been too long since I have posted last. I am entering our busy season at work and have really been stressing a bit (nothing to worry about..I am just a spaz). I wanted to take a quick second to introduce this to you..

Oh yeah....it's almost time to PARTY!!! Please block some time off for yourself to join us. We would LOVE to have you!!! Here is a direct link to join the crop group party room:

http://simplyscrapping.ning.com/group/backtoschoolcroppartyroom.

See you there Peeps!