Surfin' Ocean's 11 - "Sky" Challenge

Ok, so I'm getting this one done a little earlier than the last one...

Elizabeth put togther this week's challenge: to have a "Sky" in our card, layout or altered item. Her beautiful creation is HERE:

I've always admired people who can create a realistic background, but I'm not one of them (yet!) This idea was the first one to pop into my head, so I went with a basic sky and also figured I'd put that word in the card too. Here's mine:

And the inside

Pretty simple and straightforward, but I like it. I just got these stamps so I wanted to use them! I have another idea floating around for a possible alternate sample, which would hopefully do the theme a bit more justice - we'll see if I can get some more crafting time in to make it a reality! Until then...

Supplies used: "Mindy's Zoo" set from Autumn Leaves; "Small Sayings" set from SU; Chocolate Chip, Vanilla, SU DSP; Timber Brown Staz-on; SU Markers: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, So Saffron, Ruby Red, More Mustard, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Bordering Blue; Stampin' dimensionals

Ocean's 11: 3-D Challenge...and a little something else

Ok, so how does the saying go..."Better late than never!" Yeah, I'm getting this in just in time!

I've joined my first "blogger group" - Surfin' Ocean's 11 (I just love that name! And I have everyone's blog listed here on the left side - please check them out and get INSPIRED!) and the members decided to start up a challenge for our little band of uber-crafters. Each week we'll rotate taking the lead in announcing a challenge, and then each member of the Ocean's group can join in and post their creations that revolve around the posted challenge for that week. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, this is the FIRST challenge I've ever done - and I've been mulling it ALL WEEK!

This first challenge was issued by our fearless, crafty leader, Chirleen! She asked for a Spring themed, 3-D item. I took a leaf from a card I made with my SIL a couple months ago - and made it work for this particular theme. I really liked the look of the "cup card" when I first made it with my SIL, but mine ended up too flat before - so when I decided to try a cup on THIS card, I made sure to go for the 3-D effect and really round it out. In addition, I used colors that I felt were compatable with a Spring theme. I also mulled what kind of saying I could use, and since this cup reminds me of tasty lemonade, I thought I'd riff on the "sweetness" of that drink (and probably put a saying inside that says something like: "Just like a great glass of lemonade, you're too sweet!" (Kind of like a Thank You of sorts, probably cheesy, but there you go!) Here it is:

My supplies used: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Whisper White cardstock; Summer Picnic DSP; SU "Tart and Tangy" set; SU "So Very" set; Pumpkin Pie classic ink; Vellum cardstock; Ticket-corner punch; 2-way glue pen & Dazzling Diamonds glitter; stampin' sponge; & stampin' dimensionals (for the layers of cdstock underneath.)

So there it is! My very FIRST challenge card ever! :) I'm just glad I actually got it done! My family went camping last night and around midnight my middle son started to get sick (as in, grab a bucket, sick.) So...we hauled ourselves back home around 2:15 a.m. (which actually was a blessing because it was COLD outside in a tent!) Needless to say, I've been feeling a bit tired all day, but I was determined to give this a go. I'm really just looking forward to getting some fabulous inspiration from all the Ocean's ladies and learning how to stretch (and ink) my proverbial crafting wings!

On another crafting note, I had another VSN with my SIL recently and here are some pics of the paper-bag book we did (we each used whatever color scheme and sets we wanted - we just work in "real time" together over our computer cameras.) I hadn't done one of these in a few years, so although I know I could have done better with layouts and embellishments, I'm just glad I crafted something again! Due to time, I'm just uploading a couple of the page layouts. Here it is:

Supplies used: SU "Delight in Life" set; So Saffron, Ruby Red, Certainly Celery cardstock, ink, and DSP (I don't remember the name of this DSP but I think it was from a hostess Level 1 choice a year or two ago); White ribbon; Ticket-corner punch; So Saffron brads; 1 1/4" circle punch; stampin' dimensionals

Post-Valentine wrap up

Ok, so here are a couple of items that I worked on for Valentines: The first two pictures are of an item that I worked on along with my SIL via our VSN. I'm not sure if she learned this from someone she crafts with in CO or came up with it herself. Regardless, it was a fun effort and my son's teacher enjoyed getting it with her Valentines mailbox. (In case the picture isn't very clear, it just spells out Happy Valentines.)

The second item is the card I gave to my hubby on Valentines. I saw a thread on SCS entitled "suggestive sentiments" and had a few good laughs at many of the suggestions given. Lots of great ones! I decided to try my 'Favorite Teddy Bear' set from SU and create a little something special for my "honey".

Update on Mini Magazine Holders info

Ok, so I've had some requests for more info on the magazine holders. They are cute and fun to make - but I didn't come up with the project! :) Here's a link to the original one I saw on SCS that made me want to try them: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1184460?cat=5661&si=mini%20magazine%20holders

In the info section of that post, the crafter has listed her blog where she shows the craft: http://custampin.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/christmas-gifts-part-2/

Hopefully it's OK to post links to other blogs like this... :) Someone let me know if otherwise...but I think she did a great job and I certainly was inspired to try it out myself! Enjoy!!!

Busy as a (stampin') bee...

Here are some of my latest efforts in the crafting world. The valentines mailboxes will be for teachers for my kids. I can really see me getting into making more of the "mini magazine" holders too! :)

Gifts for Teachers, Students, and V.T.'s

Some pics of my latest crafting efforts. Made these for Jackson's teacher, my voice students and my visiting teachees. (Each tin has a couple cards - I have a few samples showing.) I've really enjoyed using my D.S.P. for these - and of course, embellishments!

VSN Nights are the BEST!!!

I love VSN nights (virtual stamp nights) with my sister-in-law, Sarah. Even though we live Miles apart - get it, MILES :) (she's in Colorado Springs, CO) we've continued to spend time stamping "together" with our VSN's. We both have video cams and so we take turns putting together a craft item to be worked on together and then stamp/craft in real time as we watch each other on our screens. It's awesome! It so works!

Here is the latest VSN from last night - the swing card! Sarah did a great job in walking me through the various steps to achieve the right folds and cuts - great job, Sarah! I chose to use the Tart and Tangy set (I'm SO glad SU didn't retire this one or the matching paper!) I like the bright colors and cheerful images.

Here's the card in mid "swing" so to speak. WHHHHEEEEEE!

This is the "flip-side" of the card. Again, I kept my layout and accessories simple but liked the way it came out - a nice and clean design. I love the rub-ons - so easy to use and such a nice compliment.
These two are from when I did the vsn last. I think I've heard of this called the "diaper fold" although it probably goes by a few names. This was also featured fairly recently on a Martha Stewart website. When my mom was out recently, she used the cherry theme and I liked it so much, I made my own. Then Sarah suggested a handle of some sort - and this is what I came up with - would be fun with some candies or even small cards or gift-cards.

Here's the front of the pop-up card Sarah had us work on a couple weeks ago. I kept mine pretty simple on the front and inside.

Here's the inside of the pop-up card. I'm not sure if you can tell from the pic, but the flower on the left side bottom area sticking out and pops-up when you open the card.