Autumn Best Wishes

Don't you just love all of the fabulous warm colours of autumn? Although Spring is my favourite season, I'm a sucker for rich fall hues! I've been experimenting with a luminous technique that was demonstrated by Jennifer McGuire during the Inspiration Showcase classes. Don't you just love the look of it? (It looks even better in person - the camera doesn't do it justice!) I figure that this card could be used for a man or a woman and with the "Best Wishes" greeting, it could be a multi-purpose greeting. I love this effect so much that I think you'll be seeing many more of my cards featuring this luminosity.

The Simon Says Stamp Challenge this week is "Anything Goes", so this card fits the theme. I really feel that the 3 brads that I added as my final touch really give the card some pop.

Until next time,

Manhattan Florals

I recently had the pleasure of taking part in a 12 day long online workshop with Jennifer McGuire entitled "Inspiration Showcase". Wow! There were soooooo many wonderful ideas and new techniques packed into those 12 days! I really am just getting around to playing with some of the new ideas. Here are a couple of cards that I created using one of the techniques shown during the workshop:

I chose to use two of the stamps from the Stampin' Up Manhattan Floral set of stamps. Gorgeous aren't they?

I can hardly wait for the next workshop that is coming up in November entitled Holiday Card Boot Camp 2011. Participants in the Inspiration Showcase were able to sign up in advance of the regular registration which starts on October 10th, so I've already booked my spot for the upcoming classes. How many more sleeps?

Until next time,

Workshop in Orillia

I attended a "Frosting" workshop at Under Construction in Orillia yesterday. We had great fun using Glitter Ritz to create a few samples. Connie is a great teacher and it is always fun to learn something new. I'm thinking that I will make some of my Christmas gift tags using this burnished velvet glitter technique. Great fun!

Here are a couple of the samples we made:

Under Construction (15 Mississaga Street East in Orillia) is celebrating their 17th Birthday next Saturday with an all day birthday party (10:00 am to 5:00 pm). There will be FREE Make 'n Takes, refreshments and new releases of stamps, paper (my personal weakness) and other surprises. Can't wait!

Until next time,

Strength and Hope

This is my latest card which I created for the "Simon Says Stamp Challenge". This week's challenge involves multi-fold cards/creations. This card folds open from the left side first and then the right side flap folds open to reveal the inside message. I used a Stampin' Up set of stamps entitled "Strength and Hope". Most of the stamped images are heat embossed using Tsukineko white embossing powder. I chose to stamp the wording with Versamark ink and then heat set it to achieve a subtle watermark effect. Since the theme of this card is "Hope" I felt it was most appropriate for the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. I hope we never forget those who lost their lives that day and those who responded to the devastation in New York City.

Until next time,

Fall's Coming Fast

Boy, this cooler weather certainly makes one realize that the arrival of the fall season is just around the corner. Here in Canada we will be celebrating Thanksgiving on October 10th. In honour of autumn and Thanksgiving I've created a couple of new cards with that in mind. Here they are:

Until next time,

Simon Says Stamp Challenge

Have you joined in any of the Simon Says Stamp Challenges? They are posted every Wednesday and are a wonderful way to experiment with your creativity - and I'm a BIG fan of creativity! The great bonus is that you might win one of their prizes just for posting your creation. They are having a super STAMPtember blog hop this month. You can follow this link to join in the fun http://www.simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/

Here is my "Anything Goes" entry:

The coneflower is an Artful Stamper rubber stamp which was stamped with Versamark ink and embossed with Ranger regular gold embossing powder. I then used a water brush, Tombow markers, Gelly Roll pens and Stickles to add colour to the image. The background of the flower is misted with Tattered Angels Walnut Gold Glimmer Mist and mounted on Bazzill cardstock. The cardstock behind the central image is stamped with another Artful Stamper rubber stamp and Versamark ink and brushed with several colours of Perfect Pearls and misted with water to set.

Try it sometime!

Until next time,