Well, after a long break from doing projects for fun, I'm back!

Here is today's Technique Lover's Challenge from SCS: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com The template and tutorial can be found on the website.

But, here's how I created mine. I first printed out the template on Whisper White cardstock and then stamped it with the Paisley stamp using Certainly Celery ink. I added pointsettias in Bravo Burgundy from the Season of Joy stamp set. I added Dazzling Diamonds to the centers of the flowers. I used Always Artichoke ink and a sponge for the edges of the tree. I then added felt flowers and half pearls using mini glue dots. I stamped "Merry Christmas" using the Fancy Flexible Phrases stamp set in Always Artichoke ink. I punched the sentiment out using the small oval punch and then used the large oval punch to mat that with Bravo Burgundy cardstock. I added dimensionals under the sentiment. I created a tree topper with the Pretties Kit using a hat pin, crystals and pearl. Then hat pin has a loop at the top which will be perfect for hanging on my Christmas tree!

Happy Stamping! :-) Nicole

This was this week's Sketch Challenge on Splitcoast http://www.splitcoaststampers.com.

This card size is 4 1/2" x 4 1/2". I first started by stamping the hummingbird (Pretty Amazing stamp set) and coloring her with Bashful Blue. I used my Versamarker and clear embossing powder and heat set it. I used my brayer to color the grass and sky. I stamped flowers in Sage Shadow in the grass area and the leaves were stamped with Brilliant Blue. I used Close to Cocoa to sponge around the edge. This had a wonderful surprise effect because it looks like a window. I wasn't expecting that! LOL

I finished the card by matting the main image twice, added flowers and the sentiment.

Thanks for visiting and happy stamping! :-) Nicole

This card was made for Tuesday's Color Challenge on Splitcoast http://www.splitcoaststampers.com. We were to use Blush Blossom, Close to Cocoa and Ruby Red. I rarely use Blush Blossom and this was a great color combo!

I used the SU! stamp set called Time Well Spent. It was a hostess stamp set from the 2008 catalog. I rarely see the tulips in this set used, so I decided to feature them on this card. I also used Circle of Friendship for the sentiment.

Look closely at the bottom of the card and you will see the dry embossing. I used the Classy Brass template called Seeing Spots.

The flowers were simply colored with markers and I added Stickles on the stamens for a little bling. I used a Nestibilities for matting the main image.

Thanks for visiting and happy stamping!

:-) Nicole

Well, I've been really lazy about posting to my blog! Sorry about that! Here are some cards that I've done since my last post. If you would like the details on how to create these, you can leave a comment and I will let you know the details! Thanks for visiting and I will try to be better at updating!

Happy Stamping!

:-) Nicole

Since I didn't get around to stamping yesterday (weep, weep) I had to combine 2 challenges today. So this is yesterday's Sketch Challenge and today's Ways to Use it Challenge on Splitcoast http://www.splitcoaststampers.com

And actually, I didn't follow the sketch exactly....ooops!

But, the Ways to Use it challenge called for us to use Scraps only. So, I started with one of my favorite patterned papers called Vintage Workshop. I think EK Success made the paper, but I'm not positive on that. I used my sanding block to sand the edges of the 3 center panels for a faux mat. I matched the colors of the paper to SU! colors which are Bordering Blue and Mellow Moss. I stamped all of the images with Staz-on Brown ink. Colored them in with SU! markers. I used my Versamarker for the main image, applied clear embossing powder and heat set it. I then used a sponge for the grass using Mellow Moss. The blue sky was created by inking up my brayer with Bordering Blue ink, rolled it once onto scrap paper and then applied to the image. I still found it too dark of a blue, so I used White Craft ink and a sponge to lighten the sky and then dabbed more white ink for a cloud look. I heat set it so it would dry faster.

The flowers in the pot were colored with SU! markers and then cut out. I taped it to the sentiment. Finally, I added the mini buttons.

Happy Stamping!

:-) Nicole

Well, after a short but incredible trip to California, I am back! It's good to be home and stamping again.

This was today's Color Challenge on SplitCoast http://www.splitcoaststampers.com

We were to use Groovy Guava, Sahara Sand and Whisper White. The Sahara Sand layer on my card was stamped on the front AND back with the Canvas stamp. Then on the front I added the flower stamp from Fresh Fillers. I rolled the edge of the paper over and stapled it 3 times at the top and once on the bottom. I stamp a verse from Curvy Verses for my main image and matted that onto Groovy Guava and used my corner rounder punch to make the scallop edge. I used WeRMemory Keepers snaps for an accent on the scallop. I matted that onto Whisper White and used dimensionals under it.

I then dyed my white grosgrain ribbon with Groovy Guava ink refill and water. When that dried, I added Whisper White cardstock to the edge and attached the ribbon with a Prima flower and silver brad. The flower and brad was probably the hardest to do on this card because I wrapped the prongs of the brad around the ribbon and poked myself a couple of times! OUCH! LOL!

Happy Stamping!

:-) Nicole

This is today's color challenge from SplitCoast!

We were to use River Rock, Soft Sky and Very Vanilla. What a beautiful color combo! So soft and elegant!

My card was fairly simple to create. I used the Happy Harmony stamp set. Since SU! does not have markers in the In Colors, I used my blender pen and ink pad to color the flowers and stamped it on Very Vanilla. I matted the image onto Soft Sky and paper pierced the top and bottom.

Using my Nestibilities (that my awesome Mom gave me) I cut the scallop frame and paper pierced that as well. Both are attached with dimensionals. I stamped the sentiment with River Rock and matted that onto Soft Sky. I used my corner rounder to create the scallops.

I then hand-dyed my ribbon. I used white grosgrain and added water and Soft Sky ink refill for the color. I don't have a portion ratio, I just guessed. Came out pretty good, huh? LOL

Happy Stamping!

:-) Nicole

I'm posting this a day late. Yesterday was pretty hectic!

This was a challenge for the Dirty Dozen Girls - Dare To Get Dirty 08 by Lauraly. We had to use vellum. I also read later that Jody posted a challenge for ribbon. So, I posted it in both places.

The card base is Old Olive. I embossed the vellum using my Quickutz Revolution. I used a new stamp set from SU! called Dreams Du Jour. Using my blender pen, I colored the images and cut the butterfly out. I stamped the Paisley onto Certainly Celery cardstock with the same color ink. Added dew drop, grosgrain ribbon, scallop and circle punch and dimensionals under the main image.

Happy Stamping!

:-) Nicole

Happy Friday!

This is today's Limited Supply Challenge on Splitcoast. http://www.splitcoaststampers.com We were to create a card using folding of any kind. I chose a gate fold card.

I also chose to use a technique that a fellow Splitcoaster, Markiesmom, showed on her blog found here: http://stampinwithmarkiesmom.blogspot.com/

She used packing tape over a photo, submerged it in water, rubbed the paper off, stamped on white cardstock and applied the packing tape to the cardstock. I can't even tell you how fun this was! The one thing that HAS to be done is to use a laser printer only. You've got to try it!

So, for the rest of my card, I started with Blue Bayou card base (6" x 11") and scored it at 2 3/4" on each side of 11" side. I used Soft Sky cardstock for the panels, stamped Soft Swirls and brayered Soft Sky ink at the bottom and top for a "water" look.

I accented the card with Real Red scallop punch, added white gel pen dots, circle punches and used Fancy Flexible Phrases for the sentiment. On the left side of the photo, I added flower punches, mini circle punch and rhinestone brads. White grosgrain ribbon and red gingham ribbon was added to the top right.

Happy Stamping!

:-) Nicole

HOW FUN WAS THIS?? Well let me just tell you! Today on SplitCoast the Ways to use it challenge was to use spices from our spice racks. Well, I really didn't think that I'd find anything and I ended up finding quite a few things! But for this card I only used mustard seeds. Here's how I made this card:

On Very Vanilla cardstock I adhered some Terrifically Tacky Tape and "smushed" the mustard seeds into the tape so they would stick very well. From there I off-set matted that with Close to Cocoa cardstock and Chocolate Chip cardstock.

For the main image I stamped the horse from the Wanted stamp set into Versamark then into Chocolate Chip ink. I added clear embossing powder and heat set it. I used the brayer with Creamy Caramel, then Close to Cocoa and then Chocolate Chip. I then used an Inkadinkado stamp set for the grasses with Chocolate Chip. I cut the main image into an oval shape using my Creative Memories oval cutter and added the mats to it.

The background was stamp mutltiple times. First with Creamy Caramel ink for the paisley stamp, then Close to Cocoa for the stars and then Creamy Caramel for the Sanded stamp.

I added the brads, oval sentiment and ribbon for a finishing touch.

Happy Stamping!

:-) Nicole

This was todays Sketch Challenge on SplitCoast: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com

I started with the designer paper from Basic Grey (the paisley pattern). I chose my colors from there.

I stamped with the Pretty Amazing stamp set from Stampin' Up!. I first stamped the bird using Soft Sky ink on Confetti White cardstock. I used my aqua painter to color the bird. I used Versamarker over the bird and applied clear embossing powder. I then stamped the leaves with Always Artichoke and Certainly Celery. Using a sponge, I rubbed the sky with Soft Sky ink and then Certainly Celery and Always Artichoke for the bottom. I matted the image with Confetti White and Soft Sky cardstock. Dimensionals were used under the main image.

I stamps "A Little Something" onto Soft Sky cardstock and punched it out with the Designer Label punch and attached white grosgrain ribbom. I used a corner rounder punch for the paisley print paper and some Soft Sky cardstock on the right hand side. I added some dew drops for an accent. The main card base is Always Artichoke cardstock that I also sponged.

Happy Stamping!

:-) Nicole

Today's Color Challenge on SplitCoast http://www.splitcoaststampers.com

was to use Wild Wasabi, So Saffron and Almost Amethyst. For some odd reason, this was a tough one for me. My card came out rather plain, but after going back to it all day, I decided to upload it anyway. I will add a sentiment later.

I first stamped the bird with Basic Brown ink and used my blender pen with So Saffron ink to color the bird. I used my Versamarker on the bird image, applied clear embossing powder and heat set it. (I had planned on doing brayered sky, but chose to just use a sponge technique on the edges). I stamped the flower image my coloring the stamp with Almost Amethyst marker and carefully used my Wild Wasabi ink pad for the stem. I applied dots on the edge with my So Saffron marker.

Using my Creative Memories oval cutter, I used some SU! designer series paper and Whisper White. I matted the ovals onto So Saffron cardstock that I stamped with the Paisley background stamp.

The bird image and flower stamp is from an Inkadinkado stamp set called Friendship that I found at Jo-Ann Stores.

Happy Stamping!

:-) Nicole

This is today's Technique Lover's Challenge on SplitCoast.....http://www.splitcoaststampers.com

We were to use the Grid Technique. I love this technique!

I started with a stamp set called Topiary....a rather old SU! set. But I love topiaries and just can't part with it.

I inked the pot in Versamark and then in Bordering Blue. Stamped it on Whisper White cardstock. Then I inked the topiary in Versamark and then in Old Olive. I used clear embossing powder and heat set it. I then stamped the tree trunk in Close to Cocoa. I used a sponge around the edges using Bordering Blue and Old Olive.

I accessorized with Bazzill snaps, some satin ribbon that I bought at Michaels and stamped "happy birthday" with Everyday Flexible Phrases. I added dimensionals under the topiary and "happy birthday".

For step by step instructions on the Grid Technique visit:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ee/index.php/resources/tutorials/grid_technique/

Happy Stamping!

:-) Nicole

I just had to share this card. My 7-year old daughter created this ALL BY HERSELF. She was way too cute picking out the colors and creating her own layout! Is this a future card creator or what???!!!!

This is a special card that she made for her Grandma! I know my Mom will treasure is always!

Happy Stamping!

:-) Nicole

Friday, July 11, 2008

For today's Limited Supply challenge on SplitCoast http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ we were to create a card with a summer theme, no more than 3 layers, no pattern paper and limited embellishments. Well, what's better than a huge cold ice cream sunday on a hot day??

I used a SU! set called "Sweet Treats". It's one of my all time favorite sets. And this image is my favorite. I stamped the image with Staz-on Jet Black ink onto SU! Watercolor paper. I used my Aqua painter to color the image with Real Red (cherry), Wild Wasabi (leaf), Regal Rose (strawberry ice cream), Creamy Caramel (vanilla ice cream), Chocolate Chip (hot fudge and chocolate ice cream), Bashful Blue (glass dish and sponging on the edges). Chocolate Chip cardstock is the card base, then Close to Cocoa cardstock stamped with the Jumbo Wheel called "Whimsy" with Close to Cocoa ink. I used the Word Window punch for the three accents and lightly sponged the edges with Chocolate Chip ink. Using the stamp set "Everday Flexiblbe Phrases", I stamped "sweet daughter" onto watercolor paper and punched that out with the small oval punch. I used the large oval punch for the Pretty in Pink cardstock behind the sentiment. I accented the sentiment with EK Success' rhinestones and used dimensional stickers under that.

Happy Stamping! :-) Nicole

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Here is today's Sketch Challenge (SC184) from SplitCoastStampers http://www.splitcoaststampers.com

I needed another graduation card and this sketch (by MotherMark) was perfect for grad cap!!!

This was fairly simple to create.

-I started with a Whisper White card base (51/4"x 51/4") and then the three squares by triple matting and then cut the large square (3"x3") for the grad cap. I used Versamark with white embossing powder and heat set for the sentiment.

-I inserted the silver brad and made a tassle with embroidery floss.

-I printed "LHS" and "Class of 2008" on the computer and glued that to the hat.

-Accented the bottom with red, white and navy grosgrain ribbon.

Happy Stamping!

Nicole

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Here is today's Color Challenge (CC174) from SplitCoastStampers http://www.splitcoaststampers.com. We were to use Groovy Guava, Barely Banana and Chocolate Chip colors.

My main image is a Stampin' Up! set called Simply Said.

-I first stamped the main image on Whisper White cardstock with Chocolate Chip ink.

-I then used a Barely Banana marker to color the flowers.

-I used a Versamarker over the flower images and applied clear embossing powder then set it with the heat gun.

-I inked my brayer with Groovy Guava and starting at the bottom of the image, rolled the color up to the top of the image. I re-inked the brayer and applied more to the bottom portion only.

-I matted the image on Whisper White cardstock, then on Chocolate Chip.

-I used All in a Row stamp set to stamp the stitching around the edges.

-Rub ons were applied as an accent with EK Success rhinestones.

-A Bazzill flower and rhinestone brad were attached in the top corner.

-Curvy Verses stamp set was used for the sentiment and accented with white grosgrain ribbon and banana ric rac. The main image and sentiment were popped up with dimensional stickers.

Happy Stamping!

Nicole