And the winner is...

I put all the entries for the JJSC003 challenge into a hat, and pulled out Emily's name!

Emily said...

This is probably the whitest card I've ever done, and the one with the most glitter :P

Voila!
October 24, 2008 6:35 PM

Congratulations Emily! Please email me your address, and I'll send off the package!

Thanks to all of you for playing along. I really appreciate it :)

And don't forget to watch for the big 5K blog candy (I'm already over 5200!) coming soon. I'm still waiting on one package...

Boo!

Wow, even more blog candy! And some yummy candy it is. Donna over at Serenity in Stamping is giving away a load of stamping goodies. Be sure to check it out and enter!

So today I got a sweet package in the mail: this blog candy from Michelle at Stamper's Dream. And as soon as I ripped open the envelope, I knew I had to make a card!

Of course I had to try the Cuttlebug smoosh technique on this funky Skulls Collage CB embossing folder. Then I used the paper crimper I found at the dollar store (yes, for only ONE dollar!) to add some texture to the black layer, which is popped up on the orange card base.

I created my scary little scene with a bit of masking, and added the pumpkin and cat on top. I just tapped the cats ears on my black ink pad.

Notice that I only cut out the cat body, and not the tail/legs? Much better than fighting with those tiny pieces. And I like the look.

I wrapped some of the ribbon around the black layer, and added my sentiment, which I rock 'n rolled, used the Word Window punch, and then the 1/2" circle punch on the ends.

A super quick card, but I like it!

Stamps: Owl-oween (Hero Arts)
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Whisper White (SU)
Ink: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie (SU)
Accessories: Old Olive marker, Word Window punch (SU), Skulls Collage CB embossing folder, CB (Provocraft), 1/2" circle punch (EK Success), ribbon, paper crimper (unknown)

Oh, and remember this card? I added Stickles to the star, and Glossy Accents to the holly berries. I like it much better now!

ps. Thanks to Chelle for the reminder about the blog candy! We've been preparing for Halloween, so I completely forgot. I'm just heading to bed, but I promise to do it tomorrow!

pps. Michelle Zindorf is giving away a beautiful stamp set!

Holy Cannelloni! The mother of all blog candy.

Right now (up until about October 31/November 2) there are currently 1189 giveaways listed here:

Bloggy Carnival Giveaways

Yes, that's, right. One THOUSAND, one hundred, and eighty-nine giveaways. You can read through the list and see if there's anything that interests you. Then click on the link and read the rules.

Most of these giveaways are not crafts-related, but who cares? That's a lot of free stuff to win!

Good luck!

Sharing the love: more blog candy!

Act quick! Kelly over at is giving away the adorable Hero Arts Owl-oween stamp set, but you only have until tonight to enter!

Another deadline of tonight: the Hero club blog is giving away a 6×6 pad of BasicGrey paper (love, love, LOVE it!), a pack of Hero Arts notecards and some Hero Arts gems. Also mentioned in that post, they are having a challenge to create something “mini” using at least one Hero Arts stamp.

And another: Craft Critique is giving away a Bo Bunny Retractable Craft Knife! Enter by noon EST tomorrow.

Cammie is giving away a copy of the new PC Gourmet book. Enter by October 31 at 5pm CST. Open to US residents only (boo!)

Dawn is also giving away a copy of the PC Gourmet book. Enter by October 29 at 7pm CST. Also US residents only.

2 Sketches 4 You is giving away a bunch of stuff for trying their sketch of the week. Deadline is November 1st.

Cornish Heritage Farms is celebrating their new blog, and what celebration isn't complete without some giveaways?

Fly Me to the Moon

This card is for the Gina K Land Cruise challenge, GKLANDEM, which required the use of chipboard on a card.

I had to make a card for a four year-old boy, so I started with the chipboard. The super cool retro K&Co "Kazoo Kids" chipboard. I chose the rocket, star, and Explore sentiment.

To start, I wheeled Star Studded on the blue card base, and then used the Cuttlebug "smoosh" technique on the yellow layer with the Numbers Collage embossing folder. It reminded me of a countdown to blast off. Yes, I am in love with that technique!

I sanded down the rocket and sentiment to distress them a bit more, and used my 2 1/2" circle punch to create the "planet". To avoid having to cut the pie shape out of the circle, I just punched a corner of the paper. I edged it in Close to Cocoa.

To add some "space-age" embellishment, I used a Krylon gold leafing pen to add a frame around the yellow layer, as well as colour the large chipboard star, the smaller stars (originally green and yellow brads), and some accents on the other two chipboard pieces.

The yellow layer, rocket, and sentiment are all popped up on dimensionals.

Stamps: Start Studded wheel (SU)
Paper: Blue, yellow (The Paper Company), pp (unknown)
Ink: Blue Bayou, Close to Cocoa, Summer Sun (SU)
Accessories: Numbers Collage embossing folder, CB (Provocraft), Chipboard (K&Co), brads (Making Memories), 2 1/2" punch (Marvy Uchida)
Techniques: Cuttlebug "smoosh"

On a side note, I really need to get some scrapbooking done. So if you see me posting more cards, please send me a virtual kick in the butt!

Um. Wow.

I won some more blog candy! Over at the Stamp a Sweet Impression blog!!! I'd actually just decided to stop entering so many blog candy giveaways, as I've been so incredibly lucky, and have won several. I'd like to think this one is because of my "spread the love" post below, so I'll try to keep gathering all the blog candy I find out there!

And this makes me even more determined to have the most awes-o-rama 5000 hits blog candy giveaway, EVER. It's going to be simple to enter, and hopefully I'll tempt you with some great goodies to do so! I've got to delay it just a bit, as I'm waiting on a few things to arrive, so stay tuned!

ps. Rockets are my favourite Halloween candy. And I happened to find a huge bucket at Costco, filled with Rockets, Nerds, Runts, Sweetarts, and Double Bubble! I'm in heaven! Oh, plus some sort of blah lollipops - guess what I'll be giving away on Friday? ;)

Campaign to Spread the Sweetness!

You have got to check out Taylored Expressions. First of all, at TE the store, you can find the most adorable cupcake stamps EVER. Check out this Halloween set. That ghost makes me giggle every time. They've also just release three new Christmas sets, including a set with the cutest gingerbread house!

And then visit the Stamp a Sweet Impression blog, where you can win one of their Christmas Key Ingredients Kits!

ps. Eeek! I've reach 5001 hits!

More blog candy!

I follow quite a few blogs, so there's almost always some blog candy somewhere!

I've been super lucky to win a few blog candy giveaways, so I wanted to try to spread the love, and post all the ones I find on my travels. So here's a few current ones:

Win one of three Clear Design Novemeber stamp set at the Hero Club blog!

The Scrapbook & Cards Today blog is giving away a pile of Bazzill goodies.

Joanne over at Just a Little Something is giving away a $30 gift certificate and a magazine in celebration of her birthday!

Michelle Zindorf is giving away one of her amazing cards.

And don't forget Emily Kate's 500 hits giveaway.

All That Scraps is giving a sneak peek to some new Amy R stamps, with a giveaway! And another giveaway for another Amy R set! (check back tomorrow for a sneak peek and probably another giveaway)

The Cuttlebug Challenge blog is having "Cuttlebug Camp" this weekend, and there are prizes for participation.

Okay, so hopefully that's enough to keep your sweet tooth satisfied, at least for a little bit.

Eastern Floral Blooms

This card is for the Gina K Land Cruise, 1-2-3 challenge (GKDLCDB), as well as colour challenge CC189, which was to use Pink Pirouette (or Pretty in Pink), Kiwi Kiss (or Old Olive), and Chocolate Chip.

I used the Cuttlebug "smoosh" technique to create my card base, and then markers to create the main image. I don't have a Pretty in Pink ink pad or markers, so I used a Marvy marker that's close enough. I used the rock and roll technique for the sentiment, and added some Stickles to all the flower centres.

I love this stamp from the Eastern Blooms set. It's the reason I purchased it!

50 hours until the deadline for my blog candy. We're up to three entries now! Ooh, and check out my hit counter. I should reach 5000 by Sunday. That means even MORE blog candy coming soon!

Stamps: Eastern Blooms, Curvy Verses (SU)
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White (SU)
Ink: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip (SU)
Accessories: Chocolate Chip marker and ribbon (SU), pink marker (Marvy Uchida), Frosted Lace Stickles (Ranger), Floral Screen embossing folder, CB (Provocraft), flowers (unknown)
Techniques: Cuttlebug "smoosh", rock & roll

Pond Scene

I'm not sure what caused the splash, but it obviously frightened the dragonflies!

This card is for the Gina K Land Cruise, water challenge (GKDLCCK) on SCS.

I think most stampers will recognize who I was attempting to channel with this card. Michelle Zindorf, of course!

I also wanted this card to work for my own sketch challenge on my blog - perhaps you've heard me mention it in passing. There's a little bit of blog candy involved, by the way ;) I count the three dragonflies as the three embellishments. I haven't quite decided about a sentiment yet though.

I masked the water splash to add the grass around it. I also used a large rectangle to mask the sponged border. To make the sun, I punched out a circle, and then used the negative part of the paper to sponge in the yellow.

I used the rock & roll technique on most of the stamped images. This is super easy: ink your image with a light colour, and then roll the images of the stamp in darker colour.

For the dragonflies, I used Brilliance ink, which adds a lovely shimmer. You can see it better in this close-up, especially if you click on it to enlarge it. A huge thanks to Marti over at Pezadoodle for these inks - I won them in her blog candy a while back.

---------UPDATED----------------
Whoops, I forgot the recipe!

Stamps: Seagrass (Inkadinkado), Splash (PSX), dragonflies (Magenta)
Paper: Whisper White (SU)
Ink: Old Olive, Summer Sun, Blue Bayou, Certainly Celery, Soft Sky (SU), Pearlescent Orange, Poppy, Thyme, & Chocolate (Brilliance by Tsukineko)
Accessories: 1 1/2" punch (Marvy Uchida)
Techniques: rock & roll, sponging, masking
-----------------------------------
Whew, I made three cards tonight, all for the Gina K Land Cruise challenges. I'll post the other two tomorrow. It's 2:04am, and I'm exhausted!

Shimmerz Paints - lotsa blog candy!

Oh yummy. Check out Shimmerz Paints! They are having a giveaway on their blog.

In addition, one of their design team members, Jennifer Love, is also giving away a $25 gift certificate to All that Scraps.

And, Pat over at The Technique Trail is also giving away some Shimmerz!

It's almost too much candy to handle. Almost. ;)

ps. Don't forget about my blog candy. Even if you don't have time to try the sketch, just post on your blog (and tell me about it) to get two chances to win!

Yup, you guessed it, another sketch card

This is another card for JJSC003. So that's four cards for me now, and one entry (plus two bonus entries) for the blog candy. Anyone else out there planning on trying it? You have until Sunday at midnight (PST) to enter!

So a very simple card. I masked most of the images, and stamped off the tree before stamping it on the card, to let it fade into the background.

Thanks to Leanne lending me all the image stamps!

Stamps: the cat: Everyday Flexible Phrases (SU); Limitless Limbs (Pink Cat Sudio); tree, robot (A Muse); ghost, witch (Impress)
Paper: Whisper White (SU)
Ink: Basic Black (SU)
Accessories: eyelets (unknown)

Yet another one for the sketch

You may be sick of the sketch by Sunday, as I have at least one MORE card to share, after this one!

This card uses Limitless Limbs, from Pink Cat Studio. I posted about the set a while ago, and I've yet to buy it! Thankfully Leanne did, so when she came over for our crafty night, I asked her to bring it! I really need to order it now. I knew I would LOVE this set!

I stamped the tree image, added the star topper, and then used my markers to colour the holly/berry stamp. I used Leanne's small acrylic block that had a grid line, so I could line up the berries with the branch ends. The stamp set is not acrylic, so you need to take a little bit more time to line it all up. Not such a big deal with the blocks with grid lines!

I added the sentiment (look familiar? I did something quite similar on this card). It bugged me a bit that the "happy" doesn't have a capital 'H', but I can live with it.

Again, I couldn't decide on the three embellishments, so I just stamped the holly leaf image next to the sentiment instead. There's three berries, so it counts, right?

Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

Now that I look at it, I think I need to add some sparkle. I'll do that later (maybe tomorrow night? it's 12:42am right now! I'm scheduling this post for later today though) and take another photo.

Stamps: Warm Words (SU), Limitless Limbs (Pink Cat Sudio)
Paper: Whisper White (SU)
Ink: Basic Black, Basic Brown, Summer Sun (SU)
Accessories: Old Olive, Real Red markers (SU)

Huh. I'm coming up on 5000 hits!

Wow, that number is quickly climbing to 5000. I have some sweet blog candy planned (much more than the little bitty bit for the sketch challenge), so stay tuned!

ps. You have until Sunday night to participate in the challenge! Don't forget to add a link on your blog for an extra two entries. You can do that even if you aren't able to do the sketch, but I'd really love it if you tried :)

Another card for the sketch challenge

I got this stamp in a bundle that I bought off of Craigslist. I said it wasn't my style, but I realized it is perfect for the JJSC003 sketch challenge!

It's a very simple card, I couldn't decide on any embellishments to add, so I went without. I have a bunch of square envelopes, so I let that determine the size of the card. Once I stamped the wreath, I coloured it with pencil crayons. I really want to either:

1) Cover the fruit in glitter, to make it "sugared" fruit
2) Cover the fruit in Crystal Effects, to make it glossy

I decided to leave this absolutely plain, and will make both #1 and #2 in the future!

The "Welcome" sentiment seemed to fit well. I thought this would make a great "welcome to the neighbourhood" card.

Stamps: Warm Words (SU), Autumn Twig Wreath (PSX)
Paper: Whisper White (SU)
Ink: Basic Brown (SU), Timber Brown Staz-On (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Pencil crayons (Media, from Superstore!)

Wow, she has a 3 in 3 chance!

Whew, there's finally an entry in my sketch challenge blog candy. I was worried no one was going to enter :(

Hey, is this my first pity post?

My first attempt at JJSC003

I saw the idea for this card on another blog, but for the life of me, I can't remember which one! If you know, please leave me a comment with the blog!

Anyway, this is my first attempt at JJSC003. This card should be subtitled "Stuff I never use".

Anyhoo, I just smooshed my spectrum pad on the paper, waited for it to dry (it's pigment ink) and then stamped the solid black stamp on top. Oh, you'll notice I haven't used my spectrum pad in a while. The purple and pink colours have dried out :(

But wait, that's not black ink! The stamps is actually a foam stamp, and ink doesn't work that well with foam, so I hauled out my black paint (thanks to Leanne for the suggestion - I don't use my paint very often, which was obvious when I opened the paint...it was all separated and gross...). I used a foam brush to spread the paint on the stamp, and voila!

Once the paint was dry, I covered the presents with Crystal Effects. Three star brads (first time using those, I think) and a quick sentiment from Everyday Flexible Phrases (also not in heavy rotation here in the craft-o-rama room), and it's done!

It didn't quite turn out how I planned, but I like it.

ps. Leanne stayed over last night, and we put the spare table in the crafts room to good use. She brought several suitcases of her stuff, and we stayed up all night drinking beer, eating sour candies, and crafting! I made four cards (all for JJSC003), and convinced Leanne to start her own blog. We sat side-by-side for a couple hours today, each with our laptop, typing away. Yes, she'll be a true computer geek before long. Come to the darkside, we have Stickles and wireless internet!

Stamps: Everyday Flexible Phrases (SU), Birthday (Scrapworks)
Paper: Whisper White (SU)
Ink: Basic Black (SU), Tropical Spectrum (ColorBox)
Accessories: Crystal Effects (SU), brads (Making Memories), black paint (Aleene's)

Even more blog candy!

Gee, is it almost Halloween? You wouldn't think it with all the candy around here lately :p

Check out Emily Kate's awesome giveaway.

Follow me - everything is alright

Are you a leader or a follower? I'm a leader, because I have a list of followers on my blog ------>

Eeeeeeek!

I won, I won!

I'm so excited - I don't have any Halloween-themed stamps, and I LOVE that embossing folder with the skulls. I can't wait to play with it all!

A HUGE thank you to Michelle at Stampers Dream!

Another sketch challenge, WITH BLOG CANDY!

I was thinking of this as I drove home today (it was a slow line-up to get to the bridge!) and decided to make it a sketch challenge.
Yes, it's that plain. I challenge you to make a card with ZERO layers. Just the cardstock base, three embellishments, and ink. It must also include a sentiment.

No ribbon, no patterned paper, just a nice, simple card. So how can you add texture and interest? Well, the three embellishments don't have to be brads. You can add layers to your embelishments, as long as it isn't paper. Try something different. I say glitter or embossing don't count as a layer, so they're okay too.

Of course, you can't have a challenge without a reward! For each card you create for this challenge, I will enter your name in a draw for a little something sweet.

Autumn is definitely here in the Lower Mainland, and that means that Winter is on the way! (ps. only 69 days until Christmas!!!)

Here's a little bit of both seasons, represented by various embellishments. You'll see my latest find: metal arrows with brads. Love 'em! It was a tough choice to include them, but I have another two unopened packs for myself ;)
To be entered in the draw, post your card on your blog, and leave me a comment with the link.

If you don't have a blog, email me your card, and I'll post it here. Or use this as an excuse to start your own blog! (cough...Leanne...cough)

This challenge can be harder than it looks, so I'll give you all until next Sunday, at midnight (Pacific time).

BONUS: Add a post about this challenge on your blog, and I'll give you two extra entries in the draw! Just mention in your comment here if you've done it.

I've already got two cards in the works for this sketch, and I hope to do a few more. I'll post them as I finish them over the next week.

Anyone want to order with me?

Jody over at Confessions of a Ribbon Addict (love the blog name!) is having another ribbon share and sticky sale. I think I'm going to get the wide scalloped ribbon and a bunch of the redline shapes and dimensionals (including the circle shaker set, how cool is that?!?).

If anyone in Canada wants to share, and we order over $100 (really, how hard is that), shipping is free. I can get the whole order, and then ship it out to you at your cost. Assuming you don't order a LOT, it should fit in a $2 legal envelope.

Carrie, Leanne, or Val if you're interested, obviously you won't have to pay shipping!

Let me know (via email please) ASAP. I want to order by Sunday. I don't know if the ribbon will sell out, and I don't want to miss it!

Puh-lease let it be me!

Elyssa over at Confessions of a Teenage Scrapper is giving away {Christmas Wishes} from Little Paper Shop. Isn't that dove image gorgeous! Oh, how I'd love to win this one!

What would you do with 1200 eyelets?

I'd be tempted to cover an entire card with them. Wouldn't you? :p

Check out Kristin's huge blog candy giveaway at Retro Café Art Gallery.

New look for Autumn

Whaddya think?

I crafted my blog header with Adobe Photoshop, Tempus Sans ITC font, and the Paper Sayings Collection from Free Digital Scrapbooking.

Check out the blog-meisters

I've added several more of my favourite blogs to my blog roll (over to the right).

I'll confess, I currently have 66 craft blogs that I follow (using Google Reader). And I add at least one a week! There's just so much inspiration out there, plus lots of ideas for new stamps and supplies :D

Glitter Angel

This card is for the Stamper's Dream Dreamy Challenge #1 and Mojo Madness week #56.


I started with a sheet of the pretty Winter Wonderland paper. I pierced opposite corners, and used my Spica glitter pen to add faux stitching.

For the circle, I used the Cuttlebug "smoosh" technique, which is very easy. Choose an ink that will not stain the folder (SU dye inks are perfect) and rub the ink on the top inside of the folder (the side with the logo on it). Carefully place your paper, and run it through the Cuttlebug. Take it out, and quickly clean your folder. Then admire the results! I love how it looks. I used Going Grey on my Snowflakes folder.

Unfortunately, I don't have any nesties, so I used a ribbon roll as a template for the circle, and just cut it with scissors. I also edged it with the Going Grey, to define the circle shape. I used my two-way glitter glue to add Dazzling Diamonds glitter to various snowflakes.

I wraped some irridescent elastic cording around the two layers, and secured it all to a white cardstock base.

For the main image, I inked the angel in Versamark, and then Certainly Celery. Once I stamped her on white cardstock, I added silver pearl embossing powder, and heated with my heat gun. I edged it with more Going Grey, then mounted on some sage-ish cardstock -also edged with Going Grey.

Finally, I snipped the back legs off of a snowflake brad, and intertwined it with the cording.

I decided that I could go sentiment free, as the card is obviously for Christmas. I'll add an appropriate sentiment to the inside, of course.

I had a hard time capturing the glitter of the card, but if you click on it, you can see a larger image. I think it's really quite pretty in real life :)

Stamps: Silhouette Angel (Inkadinkado)
Paper: Whisper White (SU), pp (Memory Block), sage cardstock (unknown)
Ink: Certainly Celery, Going Grey
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds (SU), Spica glitter pen (Copic), paper piercer (Making Memories), Versamark (Tsukineko), Snowflakes CB embossing folder, CB (Provocraft), heat tool (Marvy Uchida), silver pearl embossing powder, brads, elastic cord (unknown)
Techniques: Cuttlebug smooshing, heat embossing, faux stitching, paper piercing

Con-GRAD-ulations

I made this card for my stepmom - her nephew graduated from high school with a great scholarship. It's based off of this sketch from The Little Paper Shop.

I started with black cardstock for the base, and embossed it with the Congrats CB embossing folder. I embossed the entire card (both sides) but covered up the majority of the front with the patterned paper.

I used my 1 1/4" square punch for the gold-ish squares (handmade paper from Costco) and a 2" square punch for the black square. I used the Congrats embossing folder again, this time for the smaller red square. I managed to get just the one sentiment ("So proud") by rolling the folder through until I could see that it had made it past those letters. Then I rolled it back again, so that it didn't emboss the phrase that was underneath. I used my sanding block to reveal the white core of the paper. A few stickers completed the main image.

For the lower sentiment, I used my wide oval punch and the argyle CB embossing folder, again sanding to reveal the white core. Then I stamped the sentiment in Versamark, then immediately in black ink, and then stamped on the white paper. This is a technique I picked up from Michelle Zindorf. I used clear embossing powder and my heat gun. I rounded the corners, then added the fun little motarboard hat brads. I had to use the other brads in the photo, because I think they're adorable!

Stamps: Calligraphy Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper: pp (Memory Block), black, red, white cardstock, handmade paper (unknown)
Accessories: sanding block, Wide Oval punch (SU), 1 1/4" punch (EK Success), 2" punch (Marvy), Congrats and Argyle CB embossing folders, CB (Provocraft), stickers (Jolee's), brads (Forever in Time)

Simply Cuttlebugged

This card combines the Cuttlebug challenge and the latest SFYTT (sketch for you to try) from Jen.

The Cuttlebug challenge was to use three embossing folders on one card. I decided to divide the card base into two, and used D'Vine Swirls and Swiss dots. A pretty white ribbon covers the seam. Three panels of Bali Bliss DSP are framed in white. Then the Bird and Swirls embossing folder adds interest to the Old Olive panel.

I used markers to colour the stamps, and added Stickles to the flowers. A trio of gem stickers finished the card.

Stamps: Simply Said, A Little Birdie Told Me (SU)
Paper: Groovy Guava, Old Olive, Whisper White, Bali Breeze DSP (SU)
Accessories: Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie markers (SU), D'Vine Swirls, Swiss Dots, Birds & Swirls CB embossing folders, CB (Provocraft), ribbon (Michael's), gems (Making Memories), Stickles (Ranger)

I waaaaaaant candy!

Check out what Mel is offering!

So adorable!

Sorry I haven't been around for a few days, I'm in Sacramento for some work-related training. I'm actually at the airport right now (and thankful for free WiFi!) and catching up on my blogs.

So that brings me to the adorable-ness of this ABC board on the Scrapbook & Cards Today Blog:

photo courtesy of the Scrapbook & Cards Today Blog, project courtesy of Kerry

Isn't it cute? I've got so many ideas, and can't wait to give it a try. I think it will be great to put up in the playroom. I think I'll modify it to be in a landscape layout though.