Fair Entry

Today is the day I bring my entries to the Newington Fair. This is my first year entering. I entered in the Scrapbook Page and Greeting Card categories. For the cards, I had to make 4 cards, each a different design, each a different technique. One of them is the Fall card I uploaded yesterday...cracked glass technique. Here is another one: a movement card. I got the directions from Splitcoast Stampers HERE.
I used Dazzling Diamonds on the frosting and the number 3. I figure this would be a birthday card for a 3 year old! The other cards are a watercolour card and my Halloween Frank card. Wish me luck!

Fabulous Fall

Well, August is pretty much over and so is Summer. Here is a card welcoming the coming season with all it's beauty and awesome colours, frantic squirrels, cool evenings and new TV shows!
Stamp sets used: Seasonal Whimsey, Whimsey wheel, Linen BG, and Amazing to Zany.
Card stock used: Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Pumpkin Pie and Very vanilla.
Technique used: Cracked Glass. You can find my Cracked Glass Tutorial HERE.

Make a Wish

The colour challenge today is Purely pomegranite, Pretty in Pink and Old Olive. I never would have put these together, but I love this combination! You can find the colour challenge at HERE.
I used the sets Big Bold Birthday and Linen background stamp.

Wanna see Flip Book instructions?

Diane, from Stamp With Diane, posted these instructions on her blog. You can find them HERE.

Scrapbooking at the cottage

Among other things I did this weekend, i managed to complete 2 more layouts for my mom's Heritage album. These are pictures from my mom's childhood. I titled one "I've Got a Secret..." because it looks like she does! My mom will do all her own journalling.
The whole album is being done with the More to Adore line from CTMH.

A FUN weekend ahead!

I am off to my friend's cottage in about 2 hours...I am so excited! It's another Stamp-a-Rama. I will post all about it when I get back on Sunday!
(Meanwhile, Mike gets to stay home, watch "his" shows, listen to "his" music and nap)!

Frank is in the house!

I created this for today's Way To Use It challenge at Splitcoast Stampers. We were asked to create a Halloween card...I LOVE Halloween.
The back panels are wheeled with the Arachnophobia wheel. The center panel is stamped with the Weathered BG stamp. Frank was punched out with the 1 1/4" circle punch and placed on the scallop with pop dots.

Wanted: Purveyer of Bad Puns!

WANTED: Purveyer of bad puns! These three cartoon images have been known to abuse the English language and cause hysterical laughter. (The one on the end even has deadly foot odour). They are armed and dangerously close to being funny. They should be avoided at all costs. If spotted, call your nearest Stampin' Up demonstrator.

Happy Jack

Made this card for Splitcoast Stamper's sketch challenge 138. You can find the challenge HERE.
The paper is last year's Halloween paper from SU. The stamp is from Batty For You. I used the 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" circle punches and layered the images, seperated by pop dots.

Flip Album Instructions

Normally I have no problem sharing instructions with you, you all know that right? But because this was a class that a fellow demonstrator spent countless hours preparing, and a class we paid 35.00 for, and a class I plan on offering at some point in the future, I do not feel comfortable posting the instructions here.
That being said, I know my fellow demo found the basic instructions on Splitcoast Stampers. I'm sure if you did a search for Flip Album, you could find them!
I really hope everyone understands. I just don't feel right about sharing someone else's instructions here. It just feels wrong.
OK, back to your regularly schedualled blogging!

Flip Album

A fellow demonstrator in my area offered a Flip Album class for fellow demonstrators. We made a sample album using the Brocade backround designer paper and we were given printed instructions on how to recreate the album. The instructions were very well presented and I was able to recreate the album in under 2 hours! I used the Outlaw designer paper. I also used twill tape and hodgepodge hardware. The cardstock colours are Sage Shadow and Chocolate Chip. Had I had any Really Rust, I would have used that. So Really Rust is now on my list!

The first picture is the front cover, as the album is closed. Each of the following photos is as the album flips open. (Of course, it looks better with photos installed...I just don't have any yet)!

Fluffles

I finally got my Stampendous order in. Among other cool stamps, I got Fluffles the cat. He cracks me up! This is my favourite one...any cat owner can appreciate this! LOL!
Everything but the stamp is from Stampin' Up.

Holy Hail, Batman!

Wow, we just had an awesome storm! We even got HUGE hail! I put a penny in the picture so you can see the scale. After the hail fell, the kids and I went outside so they could see it and touch it. We got a bowl and they "picked" the hail, put it in the bowl and we put the bowl in the freezer. So when the parents come to pick them up they can show them the hail and tell them all about it. It was pretty exciting!
Man, I can't wait to scrap these pictures!

I made this page last year...it's one of my favourites. It's my mom giving me a bath. I was about 4 months old.

Yes, I do scrapbook!

People ask me all the time, "Do you scrapbook?" The answer is Yes, I do! "But how come I never see your scrapbook pages on your blog?" Well, because uploading scrapbook pages is a big PAIN in the you-know-where! I can't scan 12x12 like I can cards, so I have to take a photo of the page. This usually takes several hours to get a good photo, with no flash marks, etc...THEN I have to crop it to eliminate the backgrounds and anything that's NOT part of the layout! OK, so maybe not several hours, but it IS time-consuming and a pain in the nether-regions.
So, today I decide to dedicate some time to uploading scrapbook pages. Hope you like'em!

My Friend's Artwork

My friend Jill painted these canvases. They are so cool! Thought I'd share her artwork with everyone!

More Cards From The Cottage

The fun thing about getting together with other stampers is using their stuff! LOL!
I made 2 baby cards...one for a boy, one for a girl. LOVE the paper from the Simply Scrappin' kits!

What a great deal!

Would you like getting a complete colour family of ink pads FREE? Getting 12 free ink pads to supplement the demonstrator Starter Kit is a great deal, and it's here only until Sept 30.
When you purchase the starter kit, before September 30, you can choose from the Bold Brights, Soft Subtles, Earth Elements and Rich Regals colour families.

Here's how it works:

From August 10 - September 30, new demonstrators will get to choose a colour family of Classic Stampin' Pads® free when they purchase the Starter Kit. That's up to a $79.95 value in addition to the excellent value of the kit itself, valued at over $500! The cost of the Starter Kit is only $275 CDN + PST (no S&H or GST!)

For more information, please contact me:
Michelle Sturgeon
comestampwithme@cogeco.ca
(613)534-4623

What a fun weekend!

WOW! What a great weekend! Saturday we had our yard sale...got rid of lots of stuff! And sold for over 300.00! Saturday afternoon, I DROVE (by myself) to my friend's cottage in Quebec. That's right. I did it. I am very impressed with myself. I drove in unfamiliar territory, in a whole different provence even!
There were 4 of us all together, crazy stamping ladies, no husbands, no kids, no responsibilities! LOL! We stayed up til 1:00 am stamping and laughing and having a great time!
Slept in til 10:00am the next day. Had brownies for breakfast. More stamping. More laughing. More fun.
I was very creative. Productive, too! I designed 12 cards. Here are 2 of them:





I used sets I don't own...it's fun playing with "new" stuff. I'm thinking I really need the set with tree and present. Shoulda bought it in the pre-order!

And the Winner is...

Last week I posted a Case the Catalogue contest. Thanks to everyone who took the time to play along! To see the entrants, go HERE.
I put the names in a tupperware bowl and pulled out....
DEBORAH!
Wow, that's the first time I've ever seen the first entrant win anything. Cool!
Deb, I think I've still got your email.

Another Award!

Maria of Card Inspired and Stampinn' Inspirations has awarded me with the Thinking Blogger award. If you are tagged, you should pass this award on to other bloggers you feel make you think, and link to the original post HERE.

-Doodlebug (Rachel) makes me think because she posts challenges and her findings on the web.
-Bloghore. Her posts are fun and educational.
-Beate because, well, she's Beate! LOL! Love her sketeches and tutorials.
-The Crafting Garden. She always has different stuff on her blog-stamps I've never seen before.
-honorable mentions go to these ladies, who have already been tagged with this award:
Maria who has awsome sketches and great colouring skills; Allison who keeps us all updated on all the new bloggers in the world and what's happening in Blogland and Colleen who throws down a cool challenge every Thursday...those REALLY make me think!

New Blogger Featured Artist (9-10, 2007)

Ok, you guys are in for a treat! Your eyes will be amazed! Grab a cup of coffe or tea, sit, relax and enjoy!
As you know, the New Blogger Featured Artsist is somrthing I try to do every Friday. I feel it is important to showcase new bloggers who are extremely talented and are not geting the attention they deserve! Like todays featured artist...Leena Lo from Singapore.
Leena has been blogging since April 2007.Holy WOW, her altered projects and scrapbook pages are gorgeous!






Here is what Leena says about herself: "I am a highly independant woman. Rainer & Ethan are 2 of the most important men in my life. I love & cherish my family & friends. I love my girls, Belle & Piggie. And most of all, I absolutely LOVE life!"
Her love of life, family and friends show up in her beautiful scrapbook pages. Please take a moment and check out Leena's blog, Truly, Madly, Deeply.

How sweet are you?

Flossie thinks I'm sweet! She tagged me, and now I will tag 5 other bloggers who I think are sweet and kind!
-Simone (Spazzgirl)
-Maria (Card Inspired)
-Nancy (INKcicles)
-Malieta (Life's Simple Pleasures)
-Barb (Scrappin' Barb)

Wednesday means Di Hickman sketch!

I haven't done a Di sketch for a bit-being on holidays really messes up my routine! Now I'm back at work and back to my blogging routine!
I used Brocade Basics for this background, Baroque motifs for the base medalion and Brocade Basics for the center flower. Added a Bling brad. Used both narrow and wide organdy ribbons...(shoulda stocked up!)...and you can't see so much in the scan, but in real life there is the word cherish embossed in white and the bottom of the white panel.
I like the elegance and simplicity for this one, as the sketch is pretty dramatic.

Flower card

First, let me say I LOVE River Rock. I think River Rock ROCKS!
I hate colouring. I seldom do it. I thought I'd try the Gamsol/Prisma thing and still am not satisfied. Although, I do really like this card. I like the French Script over the flower image (which I stamped in River Rock). I also stamped Linen BG and French Script on the card base. I like the red, white and River rock combo. And I love organdy ribbon...*sigh*...so sad SU retired it.
So this is the opposite of "my style" but I'm branching out.
Now, if only I could colour!

Dreams

Last night, I couldn't sleep...so I created! It amazes me how one's style and likes can change so dramatically. A couple of months ago, I would never have used swirls or flowers and now I own both Baroque Motifs and Brocade Basics with Baroque BG on my wish list! I do LOVE the bold, dramatic lines of Brocade Basics. That large swirl is PERFECT for embossing.
These colours came together while I was cleaning my scraps...picked up Night of Navy, picked up Mellow Moss, picked up white and thought, "Hey, these look good together!" This card was made entirely from scraps.

Marie's Sketch

As soon as I saw this sketch from Marie Loves To Stamp, I knew exactly what I wanted to do! I ADORE this Batty wheel and Batty For You set! (I also used the Spider wheel I got last year...love these spiders!)
I used the Canvas BG...stamped with Wild Wasabi ink on Green Galor cardstock. The wheeled images and cat were stamped with Versamark and embossed with black EP. I punched the cat circle with my 1 1/4" circle punch and the black circle matt with my 1 3/4" circle punch. They are popped up with dimensionals.The green grosgrain ribbon and black brads finish it off.

A Challenge Card

I made this for a sketch challenge at Carte-Maniak. I decided on this colour combination: Real Red, Blue Bayou and Very Vanilla. I LOVE the colours together.
(The real red flowers really are real red in real life! LOL)
I stamped the background panel with the Linen BG stamp. The swirly on the side was stamped in Versamark and embossed with clear EP.

Dog Days of Summer

Whirlpool of Imagination is challenging us to create a project with a dog theme, for the "Dog Days of Summer".
I really like how this card turned out.
Stamp set: Puppy Love (CTMH)
Card stock: Chocolate Chip, River Rock
Ink: Chocolate Chip, River Rock
Acc: Brads (CTMH)

CASE the ctalogue (and win a prize)!

Whether you are an SU, CTMH or TAC demo, or customer, you can play along! Look through the catalogue, pick a sample and recreate it, either exactly, or tweak the colours or use a different stamp set but we must be able to see the similarities between the catalogue sample and your sample!
Either link your creation in this post, or email me your creation as an attachment and I will add it here. Please remember to add which catalogue and page number you are CASEing.
So, what do you get out of this? Why, BLOG CANDY of course! Not a huge prize, but a little incentive to get you to play! Since I anticipate people representing different companies, I will offer up something we can ALL use...a package of 40 envelopes.
You have until Friday to submit!
Here is my sample to get you going!

I CASED the Heartfelt Thanks card on page 96 of the SU catalogue. I used Big Bold Birthday and Wild Wasabi, Pretty in Pink and So Saffron as my colours, but the card design is the same.

Here is 9kids creation.


This creation is from Deborah Bryson. She CASEd the Silly Sealife card on page 92 of the SU catalogue. She doesn't blog, so I will link to her gallery on SCS as soon as I can.


This is from Jodene. This is a case from pg 90 in the SU book.


This is from Cheryl. She CASEd pg.55 of the SU catalogue.


This card is by Melissa at Simply Pink. She CASEd pg. 59 of the SU catalogue.

From Dasimonds:



From Kathy W. She CASEd pg. 59 of the SU catty.

From Cindy Vernon. She CASEd pg. 52 of the CTMH catty.