Color Challenge #34

Yesterday was an amazing day! Our first Snow Day this year. Although I sat on the couch being a total bum most of the day, I dig check out KWerner's Color Inspiration for this week. The picture of the yarn made me first think about winter, and we just got 10 inches of snow. Then I thought about the childlike colors and it prompted me to create a fun birthday card. I can never have enough of those on hand. I actually liked the way it turned out. Surprising since I haven't liked much of anything I've been turning out!

"A New Year of Hope for Animals."

As most of you know I work with Kritter Rescue Team fostering homeless pets. Adopt A Pet has an online contest to make 2009 "A New Year of Hope for Animals." If my favorite Rescue, Kritter Rescue Team Association, Inc. wins this contest, my rescue will win a much needed $10,000 donation! Every vote helps promote the need for pet adoption to save homeless animals' lives. Please help my shelter win and save homeless pets by voting today. Please log on to the link listed below, and go to the state of Wisconsin. City of Wisconsin Rapids and you will see Kritter Rescue Team Association, Inc listed. Please help us by voting. The more votes we have, the better chance we have at receiving help from this wonderful organization.
http://www.care2.com/animalsheltercontest/browse

Over 7 million adoptable dogs and cats are put to sleep each year due to overpopulation. Local animal shelters and rescue groups, the animal welfare heroes of our communities, are already under stress due to the economic crisis, and pet abandonment rates always rise after the Christmas holidays.

"A New Year of Hope for Animals" is the second America's Favorite Animal Shelter contest sponsored by Care2.com and Adopt-a-Pet.com. We aim to offer hope and help this holiday season to shelters and rescue groups who work tirelessly to care for homeless animals.

Thank you,
Stephanie

Color Challenge #33

Well even though I had off last week for Thanksgiving, somehow I managed to miss the Color Challege on KWerner's blog. Not this week though! I was a little sad to miss last week's challege because it was a chance to play with some reds and metalics, but I'm over it.

I used the Embrace Life set from Stampin' Up! A new stamp set for me, so it gave me a chance to play around! I really liked the colors this week! I never know what to do with Taken with Teal, but this seems to work. I also used the new Large Scallop die cut and Big Shot! Whoo-hoo!

Playing with Pattern Paper

I was never one for using pattern paper on my cards, only in scrapbooking (which I feel I am neglecting right now- I have a stack of photos yet to be scrapbooked.) I have seen lots of beautiful cards using pattern paper lately, so I thought I'd get some and give it a whirl. The green snowflake paper came from Michael's and the blue paper is part of the Ski Slope designer paper from Stampin' Up. Both of the cards were super simple and turned out fabulous. I think I might be hooked on pattern paper! Just one more item to stock up on!

Holiday Mail for Heroes

For the 2008 holiday season, the Red Cross is sponsoring a Holiday Mail for Heroes program to distribute holiday cards to service members, a program that encompasses not just troops who are recovering in military hospitals, but also service members stationed throughout the U.S. and abroad. As well as veterans and their families.

When sending your Christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to this address. If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful special people who have sacrificed so much would get. When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please send one to the following:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD. 20791-5456

All cards must be postmarked no later than Wednesday December 10, 2008. Cards sent after this date will be returned to sender.

Color Inspiration Challenge #31

This week at KWerner Design the Color Inspiration reminded me a lot of autumn and Thanksgiving. What a perfect time to celebrate the upcoming holiday. I love her choice of warm colors. They are comforting and really make for some beautiful cards. I decided to use the stamp set Season of Friendship from the Holiday Mini-Catalogue before it is gone.

Cupcake Shaker Card

I just recently made my first shaker card at a Stamp Camp I attended. I liked it so much that I made my own version using the Crazy for Cupcakes set and glitter. I love it! These cards are a little labor intensive, but well worth it! So cute! I sent one as a birthday card already and I can't wait to hear what she thought of it.

November Card Class

These were the cute cards and project we made at our November Stamp Class. They were a big hit. I am a fan of cards you can literally make in minutes. I also like the idea of creating cards that you can easily make many of with little effort (especially Christmas cards.) I was feeling a little monochromatic too-can you tell? I had an all pink card too, but we scrapped it to make this adorable lip gloss holder. It is slightly larger than a lip balm holder. We just adjusted the measurements to fit our project. What a cute stocking stuffer or secret santa gift!

Color Inspiration Challenge #30

I am excited about these colors. They are very soothing and I think especially at this time of year, we need anything that can calm us a little. I have used this layout before, but really thought it would be a great way to use those tiny scraps of paper I had lying around. I struggle having too many colors to work with, so this was the perfect color inspiration for me. I like when I can keep it simple! I even used the gold elastic cord from the Holiday Mini-Catalog.

Color Challenge #24 and #29

I was at it again. I think sometimes figuring out the color combinations for cards and scrapbooking can be the biggest challenge. I am learning to "borrow" other peoples ideas and color combinations (no need to reinvent the "color" wheel.) I use Splitcoast Stampers because they post a new color challenge every week. I also use KWerner Design because she has some amazing color combinations. She gets inspiration from all around her...i.e. magazines, clothing and home decor catalogues. Not only can you get inspiration from her blog, but notice color combinations around you. Here are my attempts at Color Challenge cards from the last few posts she has done.

I really love this first one because it so reminds me of fall. I love fall...it's my favorite season!

The second one seems really loud to me, but I tried it and I like what came out of it. I think the fun part is that I would have never put these colors together and they look awesome.

Christmas Gift Stamp Camp

We had our very first Stamp Camp last weekend and it went great. Everyone was excited about all the gift giving ideas they took away from the camp. The only downer was when my dog, Bella, punctured a hole in the White Staz-On reinker. Good thing it was white and not black.

York Spiders

For Lindsay's fourth annual Halloween bash, grandma created about 50 of these adorable spiders. She used the scallop circle punch and the photo corners punch and attach it to either side of a york peppermint patty. They were a big hit!

Hay Mr. Snowman

I just love this card. Kelly my demonstrator upline made a card using the snowman from the Punch Pals set. She punched out the bottom circle of the snowman and made it a shaker card. I loved it so I copied the snowman and just gave my card a different design.

Candy Tubes

Another very simple project. Amanda and I had just gotten back from the floral supply shop where I purchased these Aquapic's for another project. She put a few Skittles in the container, stamped a few images, punched them out and tied them to the container with ribbon. Aren't they cute.

Baby Cards

I was very eager to get started on these baby cards. These are what I call a 5 minute card. They are very simple, take very little supplies and take a very short time to make.

For those of you who don't know yet, Eric and I are expecting our first biological grandchild. I was with our daughter Lindsay this last week for her Doctor appointment and ultrasound. The baby kept putting it's little hand in front of it's face. Then the legs would kick a little. All of the sudden that little tiny form of life did a complete flip. Seeing this little baby is the most incredible thing in the world to me.

October Card Class

We just finished our October card class and I couldn't wait to show you our creations. We decided to do a Halloween card (made by using the pulling pastels technique.) We also did a very cute and simple fall card using the Holiday Blitz set. The last card we did involved bleaching and turned out so subtle. It really captures the essense of autumn. I love these cards, but can't wait to start working on our November cards.

Holiday Creations

I know it is only October, but the chilly weather makes you start thinking about the holidays. Although I haven't personally created or put together my Christmas cards; I have been playing around with some cute holiday sets from the catalog. Have a peek at some cased and original creations that I found so adorable.

You're a Hoot

I was on Splitcoast Stampers this week looking through all the gallery enteries. I stopped into one of my favorite areas...Anything but a Card. I love this link because it gives me inspiration for all kinds of projects and gifts. Anyway, I was cruising through and I stumbled upon punch art. I was curious about this and found that people made adorable little animals for cards and scrapbooks using the Stampin' Up punches. I tried to give it a whirl. This is my attempt at an owl. I think he's cute! I thought the phrase might work as an anytime card.



If you've never been to Splitcoast Stampers, it's worth a visit and totally free. A lot of great ideas can be gotten from this site. Visit http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ to see what I'm talking about.

Special Country Living Offer for Stampin' Up! Customers

Last year Stampin' Up! offered a limited edition stamp set bundle partnering up with Country Living Magazine. They have done it again!!! Stampin' Up! will offer an eight page spread in Country Living Magazine featuring the Country Living Holiday Collection Stampin' Kit in the December 2008 issue.

What does this mean for you? A couple of things:

1. You will be able to purchase your exclusive kit directly from me.

2. As a customer, Country Living is offering a subscription special!!! You can get a year's worth of Country Living magazines for only $12!!!!! That is 75% off the new stand price!

AND.....on top of the low subscription rate, you will receive an exclusive Stampin' Up! note card set, just for subscribing....from Country Living!!!

CLICK HERE https://subscribe.hearstmags.com/subscribe/countryliving/17890?src=de

to subscribe.You can enjoy This magazine subscription all year...delivered right to your door! And get a mini stamp set...free....just as a thank you gift from Country Living Magazine!!

September Stamp Class Projects

Here are the newest projects that Amanda and I created for our September Card Class. We used the new In Color papers, Riding Hood Red, Tangerine Tango and then the Chocolate Chip and Whisper White. The stamp set is A Little Birdie Told Me. This is such a great set because you can use it for so many occasions. We used a watercolor technique using our stamp pads and the aqua painter.



The stamp set A Tree For All Seasons, is fun and interchangable depending on the season. For the words we used the Happy Everything stamp set. Again we used a watercolor technique using the watercolor wonder crayons and the aqua painter.


This is our Post It Note (c) holder. We used two blank coasters and covered them with one of the prints from the Haiku designer series paper. Then we used the Bind It All (c) and Owire to put it together. What a neat little project to give as a secret santa gift! I carry mine in my purse so I always have something to write on. When the Post It Note (c) pad is gone, just replace it.
I used the Round Tab punch, the Simply Said stamp set, Old Olive Grosgrain ribbon and a rhinestone brad from the circle fire set to finish it off.

Color Inspiration #21

Back at it again! I tried another KWerner Design Color Challenge. I wasn't sure about the card I made at first. I actually thought it was a little fugly, but it grew on me. I actually left out the regal rose. Somtimes I feel like I have to jam pack a lot of color into what should be a simple card. I left one color out and liked the results.

-Amanda :)

August Stamp Class Projects

This was the card we made at our August card class. The other was the double flip card I posted in August. We used the blurred vision technique on the purple card. I love this card because you could use it for a birthday, wedding, anniversary, or any other special event.

We also made a very cute lemon lime water bottle hanger. I love the Tart and Tangy set and this was a great way to use it.

K-9 Creations

Through Kritter Rescue Team, the dog rescue team I volunteer with, we were able to purchase a dog and fire hydrant to go toward the Menasha K-9 fund. Our city is trying to raise money to get a dog for a K-9 unit. I decorated the fire hydrant and named it the P-N Post and my husband decorated the dog using a collage of all words that described dogs and named it Speaking of Dogs. Today all the dogs and hydrants were on display for people to vote for their favorites.