Keeper of the Scrapbook

Background mania!

This was a fun card to make. I got the color inspiration for this card from my SBS-5 Sister Lindsay's blog. I used a variety of stamps to create the background for the layers. If you have never used stamps to make your own background papers give it a try. I think you will be surprised. Please let me know if you try this technique and what you think about it. Thanks for looking!

Recipe: All supplies are Stampin’ Up. I used very vanilla as the card base and stamped flowers in bashful blue and certainly celery. Then I stamped over it with the sanded background stamp in chocolate chip. Next I layered close to cocoa on chocolate chip. I used the flower background stamp from boho backgrounds and added the sanded background stamp for extra distressing on the close to cocoa layer. For the three smaller layers I used bashful blue and stamped both the boho background stamp and the sanded background stamp in chocolate chip. I stamped chocolate chip over the bashful blue using the flowered boho background. For the final layer I used certainly celery, very vanilla and close to cocoa. I used the distressing tool on the edges to add some texture. The sentiment is craft close to cocoa embossed with clear embossing powder. Finally I did some paper piercing above the chocolate chip layer.

Splitcoaststampers

Okay, for a couple of days I have been rambling about different activities at SCS or Splitcoaststampers just assuming everyone knows about them (you do don't you?!). Actually if you around me at all you probably do know about SCS but just in case there is someone who has not heard about SCS here is the scoop!

This is direct from the SCS welcome page

"Welcome to Splitcoaststampers... A gathering place for stampers - meet and talk with other members of the community, check out the gallery where you'll find tons of categorized samples, share your own stamping creations, catch up on the latest news, tips & techniques, or find out about upcoming events and happenings."

But there is so much more! SCS is a hub of activity and information for Stampin' Up! demonstrators. If there is breaking news in the Stampin' Up! world you will certainly find all the details on SCS! The gallery section is the best online gallery without question. Of course I must mention the challenges! Join in and participate a little or a lot in a variety of challenges ranging from simple to complex. Did I mention that this is all FREE!!! But wait there's more! For only $24.95 per year you can join the FAN CLUB (totally optionally!). Fan Club members are able to view a special gallery from some of the stamping worlds most talented women known affectionately as the "Dirty Dozen". Being a club member also gives you a couple of other perks but the DD gallery is worth the price. So by now I am sure you are ready to head over to Splitcoaststampers and check out all the fun for yourself. I have a word of advice before you go... make sure you have plenty of time to spare! LOL

So now you know all about SCS! And I am off to work on another project.

See ya!

Marcie

Another VSN Card

I wanted to show you another card I made for the SCS Virtual Stamping Night. This challenge was comparing our overloaded purses with a card that is overloaded! We had to use multiple card stock colors/designer papers and multiple embellishments. I don't normally use as many layers and embellishments so this was way out of my comfort zone. The medallion is from a tutorial by the incredible Mary Jo Albright. Check out her blog for the tutorial.

While I consider myself first and foremost a scrapbooker I had an awesome weekend playing along with the card techniques. I really enjoyed being pushed to think outside the box and try something new - even if it didn't turn out presentable. LOL!

I will post more cards in the next few days.

Card materials: SU card stock: Taken with Teal, Certainly Celery, Real Red, and Whisper White; Designer paper: Certainly Celery Prints; SU Stamps: Boho Blossoms and One of A kind; Accessories: SU Boho Blossom punch, SU Scallop punch; SU ribbon and brads.

Virtual Stamping Night at SCS

Woo Hoo! It's time for the quarterly Virtual stamping night at SCS (www.splitcoaststampers.com)! I am usually so slow at card making but I completed 3 tonight!!! I am so excited that even though it is late I wanted to get my favorite card up for you.

The challenge was to make a criss-cross card. I wanted something cheerful so I used some paper from the retired SU Simply Scrapping Kit Creative License.

If you have not participated in the challenges before I invite you to join us! The fun continues tomorrow at noon on SCS. I'll try to post some more cards tomorrow.

See ya!

Marcie

SCS Weekly Scrapbook Challenge

I made this page for the weekly  Scrapbook Challenge at SCS. One of the challenges was to leave open space around your central image. Well, that was definitely a challenge to me because I love pictures and usually try to put as many as I can on a page! LOL But I love how it turned out! I may have to use this occasionally to highlight a special photo. Oh, forgot to tell you that I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig for the first time!! Very easy to use and huge help with aligning the title (by the way in case you are wondering - the K in Crack is off on purpose!). Finally I folded smaller piece of Not Quite Navy in half and adhered the picture on top and put hidden journaling underneath. It opens like a card. I will just cut a flap on my page protector for easy access. 

Recipe: All of the materials are Stampin' Up!

Card stock - Only Orange and Not Quite Navy. Stamps - Sanded background stamped in Real Red over the only orange card stock. I used the Short Order alphabet stamps and a piece of chipboard for the over sized C and the exclamation point.

Follow-up to online blog course by Simpleology

Hi all!

I just wanted to give a quick follow-up about my experience with the Simpleology blog course. The printed material looks interesting and covers the basics but be forewarned that you have to read through lots of his other material (plus some sales stuff) to get to the blogging course.

Thanks,

Marcie

Check out this online course about blogging!

I'm evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they're letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.

It covers:

• The best blogging techniques.
• How to get traffic to your blog.
• How to turn your blog into money.

I'll let you know what I think once I've had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it's still free.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I can't believe it is 2008 and my youngest son will graduate from high school in May! Yikes I feel old. Not really, actually I am looking forward to the changes to come in 2008. After my youngest son graduates in May all 3 boys will be attending USF in the fall. I am a blessed woman.

School resumes for everyone next week and I will post some new projects.

The new Spring Summer Catalog is up for viewing on the Stampin' Up! website and Sale-A-Bration will begin on February 1st. Love the new stuff.

See ya!

Marcie