Potluck Challenge on STV

One of our CenterStage Spotlight Designers Deb Felts is hosting the current Potluck Friday at Stamp TV: to make something soft and feminine. On today's card, I used the "Festive Frame" set, stamping it on white, and coloring in the borders, then colored and cut out flowers and leaves from "A Year of Flowers" to pop up over the poinsettias and pine at the corners. If you color the poinsettia and greenery underneath green and color the berries the same color as the popped up flowers, they will really blend seamlessly with your new arrangement, without needing to worry about covering up the entire image. Hope this sample helps you find more ways to use the beautiful borders in the new frame set, I know many of you have "A Year of Flowers" (or plan on ordering it for the matching poinsettia), and these sets work so well together. I used some adhesive pearls and Silver Lining Cardstock to make it even "girlier".

The purple theme and ribbon is part of Deb's dual challenge: to create cards for the family of Somer Thompson, the little girl who was kidnapped and murdered recently in Jacksonville, Florida, where Deb lives. I used the sentiments from Gina's "Not Forgotten" for the inside and out. This child and family has been on my mind so much in the past couple weeks and I am holding my own children tighter as I pray for this family and community's healing, and that the killer will be found. If you can find time to send a card to them, it would be so appreciated, as would be your spreading the word about the card request.
Please include a purple ribbon. Your card can be mailed here:

c/o Deb Felts
General Delivery
Fleming Island, FL 32003

If you play along in the Potluck Challenge, please upload your card to STV before this Friday, with the tag stvpf37.

Thank you for reading today, I pray you have a wonderful week!

Potluck Friday Challenge

Here is a sample for this week's Potluck Friday Challenge this week on StampTV, which involves adding one of more elements outside the perimeter of your card base. (Hope you'll play along with us, you could win free stamps!) I used the sentiments and caterpillar from "A Year of Leaves" and the butterfly from Gina's "Take Flight". DP is Basic Grey Ambrosia and cardstock is all Pure Luxury: Moonlit Fog, Black Onyx, and Ivory.

I will tell you I hemmed and hawed for awhile before finally deciding on this layout, I wanted it to feel really transcendent so originally I was going to have the butterfly coming off the top of the card somehow with the quote below it, more like a tent topper. In the end I moved the greeting mat off the card to the right and I'm really pleased with how it turned out! It's unexpected and really goes so nicely with the butterfly theme, like the butterfly and quote might both just take off! :)

I also like how the the thin black mats are the same size and keep your traveling around and around the card to follow the line. The black flourish punch adds a bit of drama and brings attention to the quote, but is also a whimsical representation of antennae. I adhered it just below the vertical of the of the black mat on the card base so it almost looks as if they are continuous and the straight line is morphing into a curved one! Shadow below the caterpillar is a C-3 Copic, my C-1 marker dried out recently, but I'm really digging the darker shadow, makes that ivory panel look super bright and illuminated! it is also a great match for the Moonlit Fog CS...

For the inside of your card, you can add another little mat behind the black box that is off to the side to stamp another sentiment, I will take photos of that to share later this week so you can see how to pull something else intersecting to your design with this when it's open.

Have a blessed a Sunday! Hope you have something fun lined up for the holiday tomorrow! Be safe!

Potluck Friday: Photo Focal Points

Today I have a simple project I created from "Inspiration Mosaic" and a black white photo I printed out of two of my favorite boys. :) I stamped it in Memento Black on Pure Luxury White and colored it with three cool grey Copic Shades (C-1, C-3, C-5), then Pure Luxury Black Onyx behind it to make the stamping pop. I ran a black marker around the edge of my photo to give it a border that would match the grid. I use black and white schemes on cards all the time, but I don't think I've ever added several grays like this, and I just love how this looks with the black and white pic! "Love" is from the Gina K set "Many Wishes". I decided to slip it into a $2 4x 6 acrylic frame, instead of leaving it as a card because I thought it would be a great everyday addition to our office at home.

For our Potluck Friday Challenge on Stamp TV this week, I would like you to incorporate a photo on your project! (I don't consider this a "scrapping challenge", because no journalling is required and there is no format for size. The intent is to think about how a great picture can be your focal point, (and perfect for cards you send, not just at the holidays!) Please upload your creation sometime this week to the STV gallery with the keyword STVPF25 for a chance to win!


NOW! Separate from THAT challenge, I also made a altered pencil can to match (so figured I 'd share it today!)...

...for Donna's August 3D Challenge on StampTV, this used to be can of beans! (Beans to be-autiful!) I don't how many cans we go through a week here, but I know I could always use more holders for my many stamping accessories, why go to the store for special containers when you have everything you need on hand?

I washed out the can (after taking the lid off with a can opener I got from Pampered Chef, it uncrimped the lid so you have a perfectly smooth, safe opening without a cut edge) and stamped the "Inspiration Mosaic" back to back on a piece of Pure Luxury, size will vary depending on your can. The bean can left room for the black mat (a Campbell's soup can is a perfect fit without the mat for the mosaic stamp leaving that nice 1/8 " border around.) TIP: Use a really "stay put" adhesive like Scor-Tape for the can rap and added photo so it doesn't peel up over time. I chose different sections for my gray shades, being sure to leave some white space, and then applied my photo in a spot where the different shapes would frame it nicely with an open space below it large enough to fit the "laughter" senitment (also from "Many Wishes").

I hope you enjoyed these projects and play our STV challenges! Have a GREAT weekend!

Potluck Friday 5/22: Textures and Patterns

A little of this a, a little of that, that's what a successful potluck is all about! Are you ready for another Potluck Friday at StampTV?

Today's challenge is to use both texture and pattern on your card. The pattern is pretty self explanatory, any patterned paper you choose that compliments your design! Here I used some of the mottled digi-paper from Gina K's "Jersey Shore" to create water for Rupa's "Guiding Light" seagull.

I added some texture with the Nautical Netting. Your textured element could be something you embossed, a scored pattern your create, a crumpled piece of paper, dry leaves you found outside, anything that adds some nice texture, have fun with it! Uplaod your new creation to STV by May 28th with the keyword STVPF14 for a chance to win a free set, details here!

Are you signed up for the Stampin' Out Alzheimer's site yet? Did you know: I will be hosting a challenge on Monday to go with a big ol' prize Gina K is donating? yep (new stuff!) Hope you'll come play! The fun begins Memorial Day, March 25th! and so do our SNEAK PEEKS!!

Have a great weekend!

Potluck Friday: Pierce it!

Today's Potluck Friday Challenge at Stamp TV is a piercing challenge! (not to be confused with piecing!)
We have some friends who have a little "Laila Bug", one birthday party they had for her everything was ladybugs, so cute! These stamps are all from "Wee Tees".

I used my new Scor-Bug* (how appropriate, LOL!) and zipped along up, down, up, down in the Scor-Pal tracks without needing to move my paper and left off at different intervals so I could go back in my ladybugs and stamp them at the trails ends. I added a little black safety pin and red grosgrain, then adhered it a scalloped square cut card base. Love how the little scalloped bumps aroudnt eh side look like ladybug shells. Bugs are colored with red Copics, and I popped up the onesie after cutting it out. I love using an accent color on the ribbing and sleeves, the contrast really makes it pop! I added a little gray Copic to the inside of the collar and leg holes to make it look even more dimensional.

Upload your card that incoporates piercing somehow in the design** to StampTV with the tag STVPF11 for a chance to win! You have all next week to play, hope you'll join in!

* You don't have to use a Scor-Bug, but gosh it makes it easy! Try a piercing tool and a template (did you see the cute circle frame Theresa made??) or even a straight pin, just be sure to place something underneath to protect yourself and your work surface.

** you don't have to pierce as much as I did here, it could be a frame, part of the design like a bug trail or flower stems, a few well placed pokes in a corner, you choose! Just make sure the piercing can be clearly seen, thanks!

Potluck Friday: Paper Piecing!

So everyone is super excited about paper piecing after Joanne's fabby tutorial this week on STV, so why not make it the Potluck Challenge this Friday? You have all have TONS of paper, I know!
Create a card any patterned paper on your stamped image, see the tutorial here if you have no clue what paper piecing is, it's easy and is sure to become one of your favorite techniques!

Here is my example of paper piecing, I pieced the T-shirt from my "Little Tees" from Basic Grey Cupcake, then stamped my smiley face from the same set on white AND black CS. After cutting out the white face, I trimmed just above the eyes on the black face to make the top of the "Mouse ears" hat so it would be a perfect fit, and glued that to the face. (So I guess that's an example of how you can piece something just partially LOL!) Ears were made with Black CS and the 1/2" circle punch. "Classic" is from my Tee Talk set, I thought that was appropriate for a iconic mouse ears, just makes you feel like a kid again, doesn't it?

TIP: when you paper piece, a great way to add dimension is to create shadow onto the patterned paper with a marker or pencil that's just a shade or two darker than the color of the paper, see how I outlined the shirt and drew in some wrinkles? (click the pic for a closeup) I made this for my son William, he is just the smiliest guy I know (hence the happy button treatment I gave it with a doodle half circle under each pair of holes!)

So back to the challenge! We ask that you make and upload a brand new card for this challenge and if you use Gina K. Designs stamps, you get your name in the pot twice! (Although I used acetate on this card, that is NOT part of or required in this challenge, just making sure you know!) :)

Post your cards using key/tag word- STVPF8 in the StampTV gallery. You have until next Thursday, night, 4/16 at 8:00 PM CST to upload your challenge cards. Next Friday 4/17, I will announce the randomly chosen winner from all who played along and that winner will receive a stamp set of their choice valued at $24.95 or less!

Have fun and thanks so much for playing! Have a great weekend!

Potluck Friday Challenge

I'm hosting Potluck Friday over at Stamp TV this week, and I enjoyed Sharri's challenge last week of incorporating something from the kitchen on the card so much, it got me thinking this week we should incorporate stamping with something that's not a stamp! (it need not be from the kitchen, although mine is) What do I mean? Find something with a cool texture or shape that you can ink...then stamp it on your paper! :) Some example are leaves, a rubber eraser, cork, sole of a shoe, etc and then see how these shapes and textures will compliment your Gina K Designs or other favorite rubber stamp images...
Here I tried to recreate those cool "cup splatter" stamps I've seen before which look so great on collage style cards or similar, using a real wine glass to compliment the wine glass image! I rolled the bottom of wine glass base onto my Cranberry Crisp ink pad, then spritzed it with a little water to blur it and stamped it onto some natural antique parchment paper from Paper Temptress. I love how it looks like a used placemat now, LOL! I painted in the wine with ink from the pad and my Niji waterbrush. I added a teensy bit of shading with a warm grey Copic and painted on a little white from my craft pad to the glass.

I hadn't had a chance to ink up this quote yet from "A Charmed Life", it really reminds of the days BK (Before Kids) when I would show up at my neighbor friend's place after work to moan about "my 8-5" over a glass of vino, there's just something about "whining" to your BFF over some wine! To go along with my little 'tude (that's "attitude" for short! snort!), I used "DIVA" and my tiara stamps (don't forget the rhinestone bling!), both from my "Little Tees" for my charm, LOVE how well these go with the quote LOL! Think thi would be a really fun "having one of those days??" kind of card! :) I ran my black marker along the edge of the mat and adhered it to my Gina K Pure Luxury White Base.

Hope you'll try this challenge, upload your creations to Stamp TV with the tag STVPF5, can't wait to see what you dig up! (Who knows, it just might become your favorite new stamp!) ;) For ore details on the Potluck Friday Challenge, click here!

Potluck Friday!

We have a new Potluck Friday Challenge on StampTV this week, this time hosted by Emily! I can't wait for you to see her sample, it just took my breath away! Please check it out here, and be sure to play along before next Friday! BTW, you have about one hour left (until 8 AM CST today!) to enter my Potluck Friday Challenge from last week, and then I'm picking a winner! Hurry up and get them in! :)

No project pic just yet, I'm having some lighting issues right now, but I think I know what I need to do, back soon! I got some gorgeous cards from Donna and Lee this week I want to share, too but not until I have pics that do them justice!

more later!