ACE 11 - September

This year I joined a sub-group of Oriental Stamp Art, a Yahoo group dedicated to learning about and creating Oriental style items, especially cards. A theme and colors were chosen for each month by the list mom, and we sent out three cards in "Round Robin" style. September is the last month for the group. Here's my creation: the theme was leaves/fall and the color burgundy. This is a gate-fold card (I've been playing with that layout for the last few weeks) - the left and right panels open in the middle. The leaf brad holds the central image/sentiment in place until the card is opened. It was fun to make, especially as fall is my favorite season.

Swapping with SEWisconsin Group

I finished up my "assignments" for the August swaps today. Here are the scans and brief descriptions.

Open Wings

I love this central image - reminds me of the '60's and '70's! Linda will find a little surprise when she receives it!

August Layout

Each month we have a layout challenge. I'm obviously in an "autumn" mood!!

Tunnel Card

This is a view of the inside - hard to see as there is a lot of shimmer.

This is the closed version - looks like a "regular" card until it's opened. At first I was really challenged by this, but once I "googled" and followed the process, I realized how easy it is. The flower is made with the Tim Holtz Sizzix flower die. What you don't see is the dimension on the inside. I hope Linda likes the cards I'm sending to her!!!!

August Shoebox Challenges

My stamping buddy Bonnie has a wonderful blog - Google Craftiblog to check it out - and a few of her internet friends occasionally send her craft items as a challenge to see what she can do with whatever they send her. One gal sent along an envelope of items which Bonnie shared with us in July. Our challenge was to use the materials and bring the finished item(s) to August Shoebox Night. Here's what I finally finished - I had the basic item stamped for our meeting and made some final changes.

Tri-fold Manilla Tag and Acetate

First I colored the tag with Distress Inks including silver and gold. I stamped the sentiment twice, once on the card base and again on the acetate. I colored the acetate with Sharpie markers, trimmed the acetate and adhered to the center, slightly off side to create some depth. The trees were stamped on either side and embellished with Flower Soft. The metallic leaves were found at Michaels, a package of about 40 for $1!!!

Large Manilla Tag

The tag was colored with inks, then I stamped the central image (one of my favorites!). I masked the image and stamped the top and bottom with a marbelized background stamp and added the embellishments to the bottom and fibers to the top.

(Yet) Another Fall Card

The central image is acetate run through the CB using an embossing folder. I then colored using Alcohol Inks. The tag is from Spellbinders, and I used a $1 stamp for the sentiment, adding gold peel-offs instead of ribbon. Simple and fun to make.

Another Use for a Tag and Acetate

I received an invite to a SU party and really liked one of the cards on the postcard, so I used it as a model for this card. The leaf is acetate inked up and cut with the large CB maple leaf. A scrap of hand decorated paper is used for the background behind the tag.

August Shoebox

August Shoebox Card

A small group of friends has been getting together for an evening of fun - making cards, chatting, and having fabulous dessert! This month we made only three cards (Ashley had to take her dog to the vet, and my stamp scrubber leaked onto the card base!) But we did have fun, celebrated Bonnie's BD with a luscious lemon pie (thanks, Chrissy!) and also shared some challenges (more on this in a later post.) So, here's our new cards - lots of ideas for you stampers.

JANE'S PRETTY IN PINK BD CARD

Jane (who is brand new to stamping!) helped us create this lovely BD card using reversible cardstock, a border punch, and a couple of dollar stamps. The dragonfly has jewels on the body and shimmery highlights on the wings. This will probably be Kada's card for BD #3 (but don't tell her!)

Bonnie's Distress Ink Trees and Beaded Embellishment

Bonnie always comes up with some lovely ideas and combined a tutorial using Distress Inks from GinaK's Stamp TV videos and an idea for a simple but gorgeous embellishment - beads and a long pin. Be sure to check out Stamp TV - lots of wonderful ideas - great videos!!!

Chrissy's Masculine Card

I just love this card - monochromatic cards are so striking. We distressed the white paper used for the stamped images with Distress Inks, then stamped in black. Thank goodness Chrissy cut all the pieces for us!!! I have two BIL's who have BD's coming up - both would like this card. Now I have to decide who gets it!

Next month we will make Ashley's card and mine which didn't get made this month. A special thanks to Chrissy who was hostess and made the delightful lemon pie.

July Shoebox

My friend Bonnie and I have been getting together on a regular basis to make cards, eat dessert, and "gab." She recently was able to find a job after being laid off for quite while, and she has made some new friends who are interested in making cards. Bonnie called the group "Shoebox" because each of us designs a card and brings all of the materials for each of the others to make the card. We added a new member, my friend Chrissy, who attended for the first time in July. Here's what we made:

Chrissy's Happy Birthday

Jane's Levis Inspired Card

You can tell that Jane is very detail oriented. She also paints Christmas ornaments.

Bonnie's Elegant Lady

Ashley's Birthday Card

I haven't colored in the candles yet.

Reverse Nestabilities

This is the technique card I brought in my shoebox. Rather than layer elements on top of each other, they are layered underneath. I love using the Spellbinders Nestablilies dies. Unlike punches, they will last forever!

And the evening concluded with a decadent chocolate peanut butter pie!!!! Thanks, Ashley, for hosting, and also to everyone else who brought projects.

Working in the Grotto

Although I haven't been posting much to my blog, I have been working in the grotto - it's nice and cool there! Here are a few cards I have been working on:

Oriental Inspired Thank You

I received a gift of a sheet of Oriental unmounted stamps from a friend as a thank you - this is the card I sent her in return. All of the images are this style - and they are are beautiful. It will be fun to play with them

Summer Swap

I belong to a small card swap group where the hostess "assigns" themes, colors, or layouts as challenges. We then send a card out to a specific individual in the group. This is my "Summer" card. I have made this same design a few times, and I always like the result. The following are also swap cards for this group.

Brown, Green, and Blue

(Color Challenge)

Bookmark

Christmas

This is an idea from Zana of Stamp Zia.