Robo Birthday

Today is the final day of a fabulous week over at StampNation celebrating our 4th birthday! 
We have one final challenge for you and this challenge is all about being a StampNation member. For this challenge you need to be inspired by a card from one of the StampNation Sistahs (or Brothah).

Here’s a little sneak peek of my SN exclusive card for this challenge…

So I browsed the SN gallery and I was drawn in by this beautiful card made by Gayatri:

Click for the Source

So that was my starting point.  I loved the bold back ground and the bright colours so that’s where I began my card.  On this card, I’m featuring the sweet stamp set from Verve called “Birthday Bots”.  Isn't he adorable?!? 

On the SN video I mentioned my favourite kind of foam tape.  It can be purchased at Last Dollar Designs.  And the foam tape that I used is the 1/4" wide (1/16" thick) double sided foam tape.

I actually made a video on exactly how I made this card from start to finish… but it’s only for SN members… Maybe you need to be one?

Thanks for joining me today!  I hope you come and join SN, even just for 1 month!   Come check us out!   You don't wanna miss out on all the fun!!

~ Ally ~
 

Sponsored by:  Verve

Supplies:
stamps: Verve (Birthday Bots)
cardstock:  X-Press It Cardstock, Flourishes
ink: Copic Markers, Memento (Tuxedo Black)
stencil:  Tim Holtz (harlequin)
tag die:  WPlus9 (Timeless Tags 2)
ribbon: Offray
tools:  Copic Airbrush.

Nautical Birthdays

Hello fellow StampNation fans! If you already weren’t aware, StampNation is celebrating their 4th birthday ALL week long with an awesome array of birthday related challenges.

This week’s challenge is all about creating a birthday themed card using a non-traditional birthday theme.  So no birthday cakes, no cupcakes, no balloons… you have to think outside of the box for this challenge this week.

For me, I am always in awe of the cool nautical birthday themed cards.  My hubby loves to sail so I made a card for him for this theme.  Here’s my sneak peek:

You can see the whole card at StampNation!  You don’t want to miss out on it!

So I wanted to share another nautical themed card featuring one of our Birthday Bash sponsors, Verve and their “Strong Anchor” and “Small Packages” stamp sets and so here it is:

It’s actually a ONE LAYER CARD!  Yup!

First I drew on the sketch design seen below using pencil and then inked it up using a Copic Multiliner pen for crisp corners and lines.  Then I masked (yup… that a LOT of masking!) off each separate area that I stamped or Copic airbrushed.  It took quite some time but I do like the end result!

Here's a closer look at one of the corners...

I used this week’s Splitcoaststampers new card sketch for this one:

Haven’t heard about StampNation?

Thanks for joining me today!  I hope you come and join SN, even just for 1 month!   Come check us out!

~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Verve
 
Supplies:
stamps: Verve (Strong Anchors, Small Packages)
cardstock:  X-Press It Cardstock
ink: Copic Markers, Memento (Nautical Blue, Lady Bug), Tsukineko (Delicata Golden Glitz), Sharpie (Metallic Gold) Pen
tools:  Copic airbrush.

StampNation’s 4th Birthday: Birthday for Her!

Howdy stamp lovers!  Today is the first day of our week long StampNation 4th Birthday celebration!

We start our festivities with our first birthday challenge today: to create a birthday card for her!  Check out the sneak peeks of the Dream Team creations:

For our first challenge, I wanted to create a purple girlie card featuring stamp sets from our three fabulous sponsors today.   I’m featuring the “Small Packages” stamp set & their matching “Cupcake Frame Die Set” by Verve, “Scandi Christmas” by Whimsy Stamps and “Newton’s Birthday Bash” by Newton’s Nook Designs carried by Simon Says Stamp!.

I created my focal image by masking off the cupcakes and the party bag to get the effect of depth.

I’m always sending my cards out a little late hence the “belated birthday wishes” sentiment!

Thanks for joining me today!  I hope you’ll come on over and check out all the birthday fun we’re having at StampNation.

~ Ally ~

Sponsors:   Simon Says Stamp, Verve Stamps, Whimsy Stamps
Supplies:
stamps: Simon Says Stamp! (Newton’s Birthday Bash by Newton’s Nook Designs), Verve (Small Packages), Whimsy Stamps (Scandi Christmas)
cardstock:  Recollections Black & White Cardstock, Flourishes Crocus Cardstock
dies:  Verve (Cupcake Frame Die Set), My Favorite Things (Stitched Circles), Lawn Fawn (Stitched Rectangles)
ink: Memento, Copic Markers, Tsukineko (Delicata Gold Ink), Papertrey Ink (Lavender Moon), Sakura White Gel Pen.

The Party Starts Tomorrow!

Howdy fellow card makers!  If you haven’t already heard, StampNation is havin’ a par-tah!  They’re celebrating their 4th Birthday and YOU are invited!!

You have a few hours left today to WIN a 1-month subscription from ME!  Click here and find out how you can enter to win.  Don’t be tardy… because I’m announcing the randomly drawn winner by later tonight.

And have a gander at this fabulousness…

That’s just a very small sneak peek into all the amazing creations by myself, Catherine Pooler, the owner of StampNation and the rest of the Dream Team!  Each day this week, beginning tomorrow, we’re posted a birthday themed challenge and you have a chance to win some AMAZING prizes from our sponsors.

Who are our sponsors you ask?  Good question… check this out!!!

Wowsers right?  Yup… we have some pretty cool prizes for some special StampNation member participants!

Hope to see you there!

~ Ally ~

CP4U #14: Kazoom! BOOM!

This week our challenge came from the lovely Angie! Angie's creative prompt was to use her provided sketch (which reminds of comic strips when the blast goes off!... hence the name of the challenge this week!) and to incorporate at least 2 stamps within our design. Click here to see Angie's sketch.

Here's what I did with Angie's challenge...

Tea for Two

supplies: lace paper, Kustom Die Kuts; die cutting machine, Klic N'Kut; stamps, myStampBOX (Review Time, Road Trip), Glitz Design, Verve; ink, Stampin' Up!, Copic, Memento, Martha Stewart; cardstock, Bazzill, Couture Cardstock, Prism; ribbon, Kaisercraft; mists, Tattered Angels; patterned paper, Fancy Pants Designs; pearls, Prima Marketing; twine, Stampin' Up!; other, thread.

I used a more simplified shape for my sketch instead of the starburst type shape on Angie's sketch.

To get my vintage photo look, I grabbed 3 of my favourite photos from the tea party and edited them to be a more rich sepia tone. Then I grabbed a fun digital vintage portrait cards image (from Designing on the Edge) from my digital stash and created a photo montage in Photoshop. I printed them out just as you see them above on photo paper and fussy cut them out.

The lace paper is a new Kustom Die Kuts design called Tea Party Lace. I cut it out in white cardstock and then used a series of Glimmer Mists and a Hero Arts script stamp to distress it a bit.

The cute little tea pot and tea tag are from a fun Verve stamp set called A Cup of Life.

I created the little ruffle of ribbon by running a quick stitch up and down the length of a piece of teal coloured ribbon and then pulling one end of the string until the ribbon gathered back on it's self. So fun and EASY to do!

What page would be complete without some yummy pearls and some stitching! These pearls are a Prima Marketing product that I adore!


I hope you'll join the Creative Crew this week and come and play along at Creative Prompts 4U!

Yippee for Me!

I got not one but TWO emails this morning for TWO cards to be published in a up and coming new book by Kimber McGray! It is due to come out next August and all of the cards in the book are being donated to the group Operation Write Home who distributes cards to US service men and women.

I had submitted three cards and this is the third card I had sent in that didn't get accepted.

Take Care

supplies: cardstock, Bazzill, Prism; patterned paper, Making Memories; stamps, Verve, Papertrey Ink; ink, Memento, Copic, Ranger; embossing & die cut shapes, Spellbinder's; gold pearls, Micheal's Craft Store, other, thread.

I couldn't be more thrilled!

Kraft Cardstock, Sewing Machines and Tea Pots!

I have this serious addiction to kraft cardstock! I use it for anything and everything when it comes to creating. The last few days I have been using it to create some "vintage" feeling cards....

Just for You Tag Card

supplies: cardstock, Bazzill, Walmart; stamps, Gina K. Designs, Verve; ink, Copic, Ranger, Stampin' Up!; die cuts (tag), Spellbinder's; edge punch, Martha Stewart; pearls, BasicGrey; jute, Stampin' Up!.

I create the above card for a challenge in the Gina K. forums at Splitcoast for their new release. I am in love with the Gina K. sewing machine stamp I have!

You're in my Thoughts Shaker Card
supplies: cardstock, Bazzill, Walmart; stamps, Gina K. Designs; ink, Copic, Ranger, Stampin' Up!; die cut shapes, Spellbinder's; embossing folders, Cuttlebug; glitter, Making Memories; acetate hearts, Heidi Swapp; jute, Stampin' Up!.

Over at StampTV, Gina has a fun and easy tutorial for creating shaker cards (here and here). I have some bronze glitter and clear acetate inside my shaker card. See whatI men about the kraft cardstock?

Just for You Tea Pot
supplies: patterned paper, Jillibean Soup; cardstock, Bazzill, Coredinations, Walmart; stamps, Verve; ink, Copic, Ranger, Stampin' Up!; die cut shapes, Spellbinder's; edge punches, Martha Stewart, EK Siccess, Fiskars; embossing folder, Cuttlebug; pearls, BasicGrey; misc., ribbon.

A few weeks back I won myself a stamp set from Verve and I picked this pretty little tea pot stamp set from their newest release called A Cup of Life. I love the end result of this card.

Loving Me Some Verve!

I'm a member of Splitcoaststampers and I just happened upon the Verve Stamps company and they were celebrating their second Anni-VERVE-sary this week on the SCS board. So I adventured into the party and found out they were having a sketch contest. Julee, Verve's owner, had posted 5 fabulous card sketches for people to use as part of their anniversary contest.

Here are the five cards I created using the five sketches....

Hoppy Birthday

supplies: stamps, Penny Black; patterned papers, BasicGrey; cardstock, Prism, Bazzill; ribbon, Americna Crafts; ink. Memento, Copics; pearls, Micheal's; other, thread.

Mousey Hugs

supplies: stamps, Penny Black; patterned papers, My Mind's Eye; cardstock, Prism, Bazzill; ribbon, KI Memories; ink. Memento, Copics, Clearsnap; die cut shapes, Spellbinder's; other, thread.

Kitty Thoughts

supplies: stamps, Penny Black; patterned papers, My Mind's Eye; cardstock, Prism, Bazzill; ribbon, We R Memory Keepers; ink. Memento, Copics; die cut shapes, Spellbinder's; edge punch, Martha Stewart; other, thread.

Can You Hear the Ocean?

supplies: stamps, Impression Obsessions; patterned papers, My Mind's Eye; cardstock, Prism, Bazzill; ribbon, misc.; ink. Memento, Copics, Ranger, Staz-On; die cut shapes, Spellbinder's; pearls,BasicGrey; embossing folder, Cuttlebug; jute, Stampin' Up!; other, thread.

Hedgehog Hearts

supplies: stamps, Penny Black; patterned papers, My Mind's Eye; cardstock, Prism, Bazzill; ribbon, Espirit; ink. Memento, Copics, Stampin' Up!; die cut shapes, Spellbinder's; other, thread.

I was lucky enough to win a Verve Stamp set of my choice with one of my cards! How cool is that? I'm one lucky girl! Now I just have to figure out what Verve set I want!

Which is your favourite card?