Mini Virtual Stamp Night Fun

 Last night was the Splitcoaststampers Mini Virtual Stamp Night (VSN). The VSN forum link is HERE.

Every hour a hostess posts a challenge related to the VSN theme. Each player must complete their challenge within 45 minutes (does not include the time to post the card). The theme for this VSN is Birds, Bees & Creepy Crawlies. I was fortunate to host the second challenge, which happens to be my first card here & the rest of the cards are in numerical & chronological order. (I missed the first challenge).

Here are my cards:
- MAR13VSNMINI2- My challenge to make a Spring card featuring flowers as the main image or focal point. Must use at least one flower. Dessert option to use something new.
- MAR13VSNMINI3- Use Hexagons.
- MAR13VSNMINI4- Pick a fun pun to use on your card with a bird or a bee.
- MAR13VSNMINI5- Make a sympathy card with one or more birds or butterflies.
- MAR13VSNMINI6- “flock” together: TWO birds, THREE different embellishments and FOUR colors from a posted picture of brightly colored birds.

 I really love VSN & feel so happy when I can play. Because of the 45 minute time rule, you don't have time to be fussy. [Rather I don't have time to be fussy!-LOL!!] A stamper can't spend 30 minutes rolling ideas around in her head & another 30 minutes picking embellishments. It forces me to CREATE and not THiNK about creating. Usually I get on a roll & the creative juices flow. I forget every other care in the world!

I hope you have a chance to check out this mini VSN; you still have time to play along. Join us for with the full VSN on March 1 & 2. Look HERE for more details! 

Hugs, Marilyn

Christmas Day After

Hello friends! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. I really think there should be a name for the day after Christmas similiar to the day before is called "Christmas Eve". My version is "Happy Christmas Day After" , but that doesn't have much of a ring to it. In some of the European countries and in Canada, this day is referred to as "Boxing Day" & the spirit of the day is to thank those who provide us service like housekeepers & postal service workers. If you have another name for the day, please let me know! To my Jewish friends, I hope you are having a great Hanukkah! And for all my friends, a very special early New Years Wish to you.
My card today is for the Victorine Originals blog challenge to use punches.My stamps are from Victorine Originals. I just love the versatility of these stamps...you can use them as I have here as a main image or you can use them for making your own background. I used the very cute Basic Grey paper called "Max and Whiskers" & even though it's been out a while, I love it!
Have a wonderful week!
Hugs,

Marilyn

FS168 Gloria's Tree

I've been trying all week to finish this card, however, other family things took priority. But tomorrow, I have a vacation day from work to play, shop and otherwise goof off. So I stayed up late tonight and did some blogging, craft site viewing and finishing this past Sunday's Featured Stamper's challenge.

It was a special Sunday because my Shabby Chic blog sister, Gloria {see sidebar}, was chosen as the featured stamper. It's not hard to figure out why when you see her amazing gallery and follow her blog.

I chose this card to case. Originally, I started with the Basic Gray Origins paper and I have some matching felt flowers; I was going to add them like Gloria did, but, well... you know how that goes...my idea just didn't look like I imagined, so I took another approach. I still think you can see Gloria's card reflected.

Congrats again, Gloria!

Supplies:
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes(SU!), Tree (Studio g-Hampton Art)
Paper: Sage Shadow, Sahara Sand Vanilla, Close to Cocoa-textured (SU!), DP-Origins (Basic Grey)
Ink: Photo Vintage (Ranger- Distress Ink)
Accessories: oval and oval scallop-Nestabilities (Spellbinders), MS punch, buttons (Oriental Trading), sponge, household twine
Technique: Distressing, paper piecing

Sympathy Lillies

This card is for the Card Pattern's Sketch 16. There's a chance to win some digi images and also be a guest designer for a week. How fun is that?!?

I don't know about you, but I hate making sympathy cards. I like to have several sympathy cards on hand, all ready to send. If I have to make the card when I know someone specifically who has passed away, I think about that person and the family while I am making the card. Then I boo-hoo the whole time and end up messing up the card- my ink runs, I get smudges all over the card & then have to figure out how to cover up my tear ruined parts. I usually end up doing lots of distressing and sponging. So here is one more card for my sympathy arsenal.



The lily image is from The Digi Shack. It was colored with Copic markers. I really like how the leaves turned out with shades of green. The sentiment is from Crazy Mountain Stamps. I purchased a few sentiments that were red rubber, unmounted. I was having a hard time finding a smaller size sympathy and get well sentiment that I could use on the outside of cards; and finally found these on-line. I am very pleased with the quality.

I cut out the image and popped it up on SU! dimensionals and used the out of box technique. I don't often use Glorious Green except for Christmas and St. Patty's Day, but the Copic color (G17-forest green) of the leaves matched this SU shade. {I have a starter set of Copics which I received from DH as a Christmas present. I vowed that I would improve my skills before I bought more...I am still learning & I've only bought one more- a gray :)}

Anyway, I toned down the Glorious Green with Barely Banana and last year's SU! retired
in-color- River Rock. The black was added to give the card a little more definition. A little ribbon and brads and call it done!

Hope you are having a good day!
Recipe:
Image: Lilies-The Digi Shack, sentiment- Crazy Mountain Stamps
Paper: Glorious Green, Barely Banana, River Rock, WW, BB
Ink: Copic Markers (G17, YG03,Y13, YR04) , Basic Black
Accessories: Black Grossgrain ribbon (SU!), Green mini brads (Karen Foster)