SD Challenge 15: Flower Power

Flower Power is this week’s SD Challenge theme, and just look at all those flowers.  Who would have guessed that Prima flowers would be so popular on cards as it is in scrapbooks.  Because flowers are so popular, we made it this week’s prize.  Look at the loot up for grabs this week.

(These are both large packages.  I’m not photoshop savy and after playing for 30 minutes, I gave up)

Our SD design team created some awesome projects for you this week.  Just take a look…

Kim Hutchinson uses one of our cupcake stamps

Jennifer Emmi uses one of our cupcake stamps

Beth Ullman uses our Alice in Wonderland stamp

So, are you up for trying our Flower Power challenge? Anyone can play along! There are no limits on supplies.  Deadline is Friday at midnight. Of course we’d prefer that you use images by Sunflowers and Dragonflies, but feel free to use other images. However, there is a bonus if you do use a Sunflowers and Dragonflies Image, you’ll receive an extra entry in the drawing for the weekly challenge prize!! So, if you have any S&D stamps it would be worth it to use them! Please post a direct link to your challenge project from either your blog or an online gallery to the Sunflowers and Dragonflies Blog, specifically on the Challenge #15 Blog Post, so we can view it. If you upload to an online gallery, please use the keyword S&D15.

Come on, let’s see your cards!

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Ramblings of a Stamper

As a long-time subscriber of Kim Teasdale’s blog, I was thrilled when Kim announced that she will be teaching an on-line sponged background course at My Creative Classroom.   With some hesitation (would I really learn something new?) I signed up, and guess what?  I am thrilled I did.

Lesson two went up today and let me tell you, this is the best money I’ve spent in a very long time.    Each lesson includes several tutorials, and this week’s lesson even includes an awesome template.

Although I try my best to stay on top of products and techniques in the stamping world, I always have something to learn, and boy am I doing just that.

In the coming weeks you will see me using techniques that I learned.  Out of respect for Kim and My Creative Corner, I will not reproduce Kim’s tutorials.  You will have to sign up to see the goods.  My endorsement for Kim’s class is unsolicited.  In fact, Kim doesn’t even know I exist

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My daughter gave me a gift certificate to a book store for my birthday this past summer, and I finally spent it.  Look what I’m waiting to come in:

Anything I can do to make my blog better for you makes me happy.

The title of this book is, “Coloured Pencils for the Serious Beginner.”  The name was catchy, so I bought it.

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Last week I took a vacation day to take a coloured pencil class with Bev Fish, from Wallaceburg.   Bev is a blast.  Taking a class with her is super fun.  Look what Bev can do with a coloured pencil.  Bev got me interested in taking coloured pencil more serious, hence my purchase above.  Maybe by reversing the words from pencil crayon to coloured pencil, I moved up a notch in the art world.  Whatcha think?! LOL

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I can hear some of you now.  Why the babble and no cards?

Answer:  Life

Thank you for stopping by.

I treasure all my visitors.

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Turn Back

Kim made a real spooky card.  Awesome work girlfriend!

Challenge Winner

Congratulations to Barb Deshima who e-mailed me her entry

There is still time to link up your Halloween card for this week’s challenge.

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Tutorial Tuesday: Reversed Cuttlebug Technique

While I was playing with a Technique Junkie technique last week, I discovered this technique which I call Reversed Cuttlebug Technique.

This is a quick technique.  The longest time is waiting for the pigment ink to dry.  To avoid having to wait, you can gently dry with a heat gun or hair dryer.  Rather than taking the time to dry the ink with a heat gun, I whipped up 10 backgrounds and let them rest after inking with pigment ink, and air dryed overnight.

My tutorial will show you how to create a background with dark coloured cardstock.  At the end of the tutorial, I will give you more options for you to experiment with.

Supplies:

White pigment ink, brayer, Cuttlebug folder, cardstock and coloured ink pads

Run cardstock through Cuttlebug.

On the wrong side of the embossed cardstock, roll on white pigment ink and let dry.

Using Kaleidacolor, brayer over top of dried white pigment ink.

Here are some examples of backgrounds.  The white snowflakes were embossed onto glossy paper, ensuring the gloss was on the wrong side of the Cuttlebug folder so the shine would be the “right side” for this technique.

Reversed Cuttlebug Technique Ideas

• Brayer dye ink overtop of white pigment ink
• Distress edges with a coordinating ink
• For a high gloss finish, clear emboss overtop of your finished background
• Great background for ATC’s

Don’t miss out on another tutorial, subscribe today.

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Technique Junkie Treasure Hunt

The Technique Junkie Newsletter is having another Treasure Hunt. This month we are highlight techniques from our October issue.  My card uses the Faux Painted Paneling technique.  It is a lovely subtle technique that adds outstanding texture.

The start of the hunt can be found over at the Technique Junkie blog where Chris has an awesome card for you.  They are always so full of inspiration.

Did you come from Manna’s blog?  Wasn’t her card awesome?  Manna always creates something out of the ordinary for her readers.

Here’s where you pick up your treasure from me.  Your letter is I.

To collect your next letter, please visit Shelly’s blog.  I had a peak at what Shelly has for you, and you will be delighted!

Thank you for playing along with the Technique Junkie team, once again.  Pat has some very nice goodies in her treasure chest.  Best of luck to everyone!

Card Details:  Lady is from I Brake for Stamps. Sentiment is Inkadinkado; Paper is new SU In-Colours

I Brake for Stamps is one of our generous sponsors

Just a reminder that we would love to see your work from the October issue, and any other issue you want to try.  Please send your work to the Technique Junkie Yahoo group (Techniquejunkies@yahoogroups.com) if you are a member.  We love to see your work!

Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for my Reversed Cuttlebug Technique.

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SD Challenge 14: Halloween Greeting

Welcome to challenge 14–create a card or project with a Halloween image.   The design team came up with some awesome projects with our new Halloween images by artist Jessica Grundy.

Stamp:  Little Witch; Paper:  K&Co

Beth told me that this scarecrow reminds her of her grandson–hee hee.  Cute card, Beth!

Kim say the dia de lost muertos project is keeping an eye on us this Halloween.

Jennifer’s Little Witch is bewitching us all as she flys by the moon.  Watch out for those cobwebs!

So, are you up for trying our Halloween challenge? Anyone can play along! There are no limits on time or supplies. Of course we’d prefer that you use images by Sunflowers and Dragonflies, but feel free to use other images. However, there is a bonus if you do use a Sunflowers and Dragonflies Image, you’ll receive an extra entry in the drawing for the weekly challenge prize!! So, if you have any S&D stamps it would be worth it to use them! Please post a direct link to your challenge project from either your blog or an online gallery to the Sunflowers and Dragonflies Blog, specifically on the Challenge #14 Blog Post, so we can view it. If you upload to an online gallery, please use the keyword S&D14.

THIS WEEK’S RUBBERSTAMP PRIZE

Little Witch

Scarecrow

Pretty Little Pumpkin

Deadline:  Friday at midnight

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Pretty Little Pumpkin

Good morning!  This morning I created a Cuttlebug card using the Cuttlebug Highlights technique from the October 2008 edition of the Technique Junkie Newsletter.  Pretty Little Pumpkin is now available for purchase in our store.

Do you recognize the cuttlebug folder that was used with the green paper?

This folder is on order and will arrive shortly.

Viv, this close-up should make you happy

Thank you for stopping by.  Have a great day!

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Just Because

I couldn’t resist showing you Beth Ullman’s card.  This card rocks my world.  Aren’t the colours awesome?  And look at the makeup and hair colouring.

Beth Ullman plays along with my weekly tutorials and I love to see what she comes up with.  This week’s tutorial was two-part masking and stamping using Beautiful Life.

Beth’s card uses Amber and Amber Flourish.  Further details are on Beth’s blog Nana’s Memories and More.

Don’t forget that this week’s challenge is to make a card or project with a beautiful lady.  Link back to our Challenge 13 post to enter your name in the draw for our prize of Lottie, Lottie Flourish, Joy and Joy Flourish.

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Tutorial Tuesday: Masking–Two-Part Stamping

I must admit that I’m in love with our Beautiful Life stamps.  Did you see the computerized coloured pictures yesterday?  Believe it or not, the image you see above is just one layer.  This new Beautiful Life series currently has five ladies, each with coordinating flourishes.  As you can see, the Melody flourish fits nicely around Melody.  The same flourish was used on Melody’s dress.

Beautiful Life is unique to the stamping world because we have included a variety of ethnic origins.

This one-layer masking technique is quick and easy.

Supplies:

Beautiful Life two-part stamps (Melody is used for this tutorial)

Black ink

Colouring mediums such as pencil crayons, watercolour pencil crayons, ink pads

Sponge

Stamp out your image three times.  Cut around one lady, and cut out the dress of another.

Place the full size cut out image over top of the original image to create a mask.

Stamp directly over top of the masked image.

The background flourish surrounds Melody without touching her body.

Next, place the second cut-out image over top of the original image to create a mask.

Stamp the flourish over top of the second mask.

The dress and background now coordinate.

Place each cut out over top of the original image, as you did in the steps above.

Once your areas are sponged with colour, colour the remainder of your image with a medium of your choice.  My image was coloured with Prismacolor pencil crayon.

Finish your card as desired.

Wasn’t that easy?

For a complete list of my tutorials, please visit my Tutorial page.

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Beautiful Life Series Now Available

Beautiful Life series by Jessica Grundy is now available for purchase at Sunflowers and Dragonflies Creative Designs

This wonderful series of stamps is unique because it is ethnic in origin and because the stamps are made to be stamped out in two parts.  Each stamp has a coordinating flourish that is made specific to each lady, but that is not to say you cannot mix and match.  Each stamp is sold individually so you can decide what flourish you want to coordinate with your lovely lady.

Melody and Melody Flourish

Lottie and Lottie Flourish

Amber and Amber Flourish

Cheyenne and Cheyenne Flourish

Joy and Joy Flourish

Tomorrow’s tutorial will show you how to stamp out these two-part stamps.

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