Michael Strong Blog Hop

Welcome to the Michael Strong Tag Blog Hop.We hope to give you some Holiday inspiration for the Season of 2011. 13 blogs have joined together to make sure you see lots of creativety with some of Michael Strongs favourite stamps.
Not only do you get lots of inspiration, but there is also a prize to win: Michael Strong stamps!
While you are hopping, you also collect 13 letters and make a sentiment out of it. This sentiment you mail to: Hetty (buzzy4you@hotmail.com) and on the 7th of December the prize winner will be announced.

This is my entry - I created the tag with the background stamps from Club Scrap and of course the tree from Michael Strong collection and then ran a piece of card stock through my Cuttlebug with the "Dotted Swiss" embossing folder and attached the tag to the car.

 I also made a cute card with his Snowman stamp on some red card stock that I also ran through the cuttlebut with the Dotted Swiss embossing folder - the Merry Christms stamp from Club Scrap and then did a faux stiching .  I really like this Snowm Friend stamp from Michael Strong.

Thanks for stopping by....my letter for the Scaventer hunt is the letter "I" (i).  Once you get all the letters and the quote solved - don't forget to send your reply in an email to Hetty (buzzy4you@hotmail.com  Your next stop on the list is Dorly

Mind you: people from all over the world are taking part, so it can happen that their blog is not in the air yet.
Go back at some later moment in time and see what beautiful artwork they have made.  If you get lost go back to Hetty's blog and get the links for all the rest. 

I hope you have a great time on this fun hop and don't forget - if you find one that isn't loaded yet, please come back later.

New Cards

I have been making "Get Well" and "Sympathy" Cards to send out when necessary to members of our 55+ Community here in Arizona.  These are some that I've made recently.

Scraplift Page for a challenge

I belong to Paper Artist Online   and took part in a "scraplift" challenge recently - this is what I posted:  Background paper is from Club Scrap's "Natural Resource" kit, embellies are from "Destination", Natural Resource", and "Papillion" kits.  Photos are all taken in Colorado.

I also took some time to do a quickie Birthday Card for my 5 year old Grandaughter.  I used Club Scrap's "Jubilee" Kit as well as images from Comics and the Birthday greeting from "Apothcary".  I'm sure she'll enjoy it :)

Thanks for looking.

Books I've been working on

I finally decided to put together the cute "On the Go Organizer" book that came in the July Club Stamp Kit.  I'll be posting pic of the outside and the inside.....

The inside has an accordian fold pouch on the left side and a notepad on the right with pen holder.
This should be good for shopping list, coupons, etc.

I usually only put enough pages for cards for each month - this one I added an additional page to put in cards for Thinking of you, Note cards, Sympathy and Get well cards on the back page.

These are quick and easy to put together and make great gifts.

A Fun Place to Shop for Stamps

If you're in Vegas - you'll want to make a stop at "Viva Las Vegas Stamps" - the link is on the right hand side of my blog and you'll find directions on how to get there and be able to view a great gallery showing off their products.

Just tell them I sent ya :)

Thanks
Diana

Altered Puzzle Pieces

I've been a member of "PaperArtistOnline" (PAO) for many years.  A friend of mine had an Altered Puzzle Piece swap and convinced me to get included - I finally finished up my puzzle pieces yesterday and am getting them ready to put in the mail to her.  We do 3 pieces and send her 2 and she'll swap out and send me 2 of someone else's - I plan to use them as wall deco in my house as I do some remodeling.

Each piece is approx 8" x 8" - I originally intended to use some old denim but didn't get it worked out so I remembered I have several books from the "Big Band" era  - combo books for Piano, Clarinet and Sax from when my father use to play in dance bands.  They paired up with some fun stamps from the All That Jazz collection from Club Scrap.  Added some homemade flowers, ribbons and stick on beads

Thanks for stopping by - and if you decide to look into a fun group to share your paper crafting projects with check out Paper Artist Online.

Hope to see you all again soon

I'm Back

I've been away from my blog for a while.  Hubby and I took a 5000 mile motorcycle trip form our home in Arizona to enjoy the big "WingDing" Goldwing motorcyle group rally in Knoxville, TN.  We  had a great ride and I will be posting some layouts and photos from the trip soon.

I also just went through cataract surgery on both of my eyes and will have to go back from some laser repair of some scar tissue that has appeared, creating some difficulty in seeing.

I am attaching the cards I did last week for the Michael Strong Yahoo group.  I chose the "Hetty's Coffee" Stamps for creating these cards.

I am going to start doing better at adding things on the blog.  I hope you come back for visits :)

This card was using a sketch that Hetty picked out for this month in the Yahoo Group - for info on joining this fun group check out : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/enjoyMichaelStrongstamps/

The bottom 2 photos are a Pocket Card I did - the top picture shows the card with the card inside the pocket and the bottom pic shows the card out of the pocket - the technique is a "Attached Pocket Card" from the "Fancy Fold" CD from Technique Junkies. 

Challenge on "SquirrelyArt" Blog

Nancy posted another challenge on her blog - the "Free-Standing Pop-up Card" from Splitcoast Stampers.  You can view the tutorial here.
I used all papers, stamps and fiber from Club Scrap's recent "Welcome" kit and used flower and button from my stash.

Check Nancy's blog for her fun creations and then check out the rest of the Squirrel Girls:
Jennifer
Chrissie
Connie
Julie

Thanks for stopping by.......and Happy Memorial Day and as posted on Facebook :

"I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and the Republic for which it stands, One Nation, under GOD, indivisable, with Liberty and Justice for All............

 

Cards to share

I started playing around today with my Gelatos and Water Color Crayons.........All the papers are from Club Scrap as well as the stamps.


For this first card I was inspired by a U-tube video from Penny Black & Jill foster using the Faber-Castille Gelatos  - the video can be found here

The second card was inspired by a video that was done by Donna Downey and provided to me from Hetty Sanders in a Water Color Technique challenge on Club Scrap.  You can view this video here. Both of these cards do use one of my favorite stamps from Club Scrap.

I hope you enjoy these and I thank you for stopping by to see what I'm up to.
Until the next time
Happy Stampin :-)

Try That Thursday - CuttleQuilts

Beth and I chose the "CuttleQuilt" technique from the Emboss and die cd that was recently released from Technique Junkies.  All of my paper is from various Club Scrap kits and after I ran them through various embossing folders and cut to the right sizes, I then stitched with my machine.

Be sure to check Beth's blog and take note that we have decided to take a break from this weekly challenge for the summer,  I hope to do some other projects, more cards and hubby and I are taking a 2 week cycle trip to Knoxville, TN.  I will be posting during the summer and hop you come back to visit once in a while :)

Try that Thursday - Cute Cuts

Welcome back to Try that Technique Thursday challenge from Beth Norman and I.  This week is the "Cute Cuts" from 10/10 newsletter from Technique Junkies.

I thought the little cupcake embossing folder from Cuttlebug was so cute that I decided to make 4 cards - same embossing folders - just different colors.  Make a fun birthday card :)  All of the paper is from my Club Scrap Stash - ribbons from stash.

Thanks for joining in the fun.  Check out Beth's blog for how to take part and get your card featured on the Yahoo group homepage.

Diana

Cards using a Bubble Wrap background technique

I'm still playing around with the Paper Artist Online group challenges for National Scrapbooking Day.  I had seen this done and decided to play - I just just dripped some different alcohol inks onto the bubblewrap and then placed the black cardstock ontop and made sure it picked up the inks.  After it dried, I used an old stiff toothbrush and flicked some white paint onto the paper.  All the papers and embellishments are from Club Scrap.  I hope you enjoy.

See you next time around - and I hope everyone has had a great Mother's Day - I did receive phone calls from All 3 of my daughters :)

National Scrapbooking Week

I've been working on some cards for National Scrapbooking Week......there are some fun challenges over at "PaperArtistOnline" forum  you can check that out here.  You're welcome to join in on the fun.

The first card I did doesn't really qualify for any of the challenges.....I just found a background I had made sometime in the past and found this old car image that I must have rec'd in an image swap of some kind.  Thought it would make a great "masculine" birthday card.

This 2nd card is part of the "mix it up" challenge.  I used a Designer Tiles Tutorial from the Sept 08 newsletter from Technique Junkies - got out my sewing machine, that I haven't used in 6 years, made a flower with a spellbinder die and topped it off with a button and waxed linen thread. 

I hope you enjoy and would love to have you share with us at "Paper Artist Online"

Thanks
Diana

Challenge on "SquirrelyArt" Blog

Nancy Young of "SquirrelyArt" Blogspot has been doing a little challenge to some of her friends for a while.....I decided to join in.........

This week she chose to challenge us to use the PinWheel Tech from the August 2010 newsletter from Technique Junkies. 

This is my card for this week's challenge.  I used all papers, etc from the Adobe Kit from Club Scrap. 
Hope you enjoy - and don't forget to check out Nancy's card and follow the links to others in the group that are participating in her challenges.

I did have fun doing this as this Pinwheel tech is fun to do.......this will be a "general purpose" card with a place for someone to write a message on the inside.

Try That Thursday -White on White

I've always heard that it's better late then never - so here is my card for the "White on white" Try that Challenge Thursday that Beth Norman and I have been doing.

I just used some white cardstock from my stash.....ran a small piece through my cuttlebu, stamped and embossed the butterflies, cut them and attached.  The greeting stamp and butterfly stamp is from Firecracker Designs.

thanks for looking
Diana

Try That Thursda -White on White

Hi - it is Thursday again - Beth Norman has her project posted and I'm running a bit late.......The technique for today is the White on White from the new Emboss or Die CD from Technique Junkies.


Check out Beth's blog and come back to see my entry tomorrow :) 

Try That Thursda -Folded Pocket Card

I wasn't able to participate in last week's challenge - but this is the card I did for this week.  Beth and I chose the "folded Pocket Card" from the new CD by Technique Junkies car "Fancy Folds and Motions".
I chose papers from Club Scrap's "Lotus Pond" kit and made my tulips by cutting out oval shapes and trimming.  My greeting stamp was borrowed from a good friend :)  Thanks Paula

I hope you enjoy and I look forward to see your cards :)  Check out Beth's Blog for details on entering the challenge and purchasing the cd.

Have a great weekend.  I'm one of the coordinators of our Easter dinner in our community.  We started out with about 40 people showing an interest in still being here for the dinner (We live in a 55+ community in AZ) and it's blossomed to about 75 or so.  I'll be posting pics of the place cards we made and the cute little Easter treats for each place at dinner later.

Updating with some recent cards

I thought I might update my blog.  On a personal note.....We are enjoying some great "Spring Weather" here in Arizona.  I have been trying to get a few things done at home and after finally getting some energy back after my bout with pneumonia I found that I was in a creative mode. 

The first card uses a Bunny Stamp and Easter greeting from Firecracker Designs, and the Eggs are from Michael Strong.  Corner punch from Martha Stewart and paper from Club Scrap and stash

 

The 2nd cards is one I did using a Technique Junkie chalk technique for the background, papers and greeting from Club Scrap.  Flower Stamp and Butterflies from Michael Strong, paper flower from stash and border punch from Martha Stewart.

 This 3rd card that I did for Michael Strong uses a background made with the Brick Wall Embossing folder from Tim Holtz and the "Flower Pot" stamp from Michael Strong with the "Mother-in-Law" tongue leaves from a tutorial found on Michael Strong's Blog page.

 If you are a Michael Strong fan, you can find his blog and you can find information on the yahoo group here.

This last card is one I did for a "Masculine Themed" swap I did for another Online Paper Crafting group that I belong to.  It uses papers from Club Scrap, the Car and Greeting stamp from Tim Holtz
and another "Depth of Field" Background from Technique Junkies.

I hope  you've enjoyed seeing what I've been "playing" with.  If you would like to get involved in a fun PaperCrafting Online group check out http://paohome.paperartistsonline.com/ and tell them I sent you :)
It's a fun place to learn and share some great artistic techniques for cards, scrapbooks and altered book projects. 

Thanks for stopping by.
Diana

Try That Thursday - Scored Diamonds

Well, for a change I'm on time with this week's challange with Beth Norman for the Technique Junkies "Try That Thursday Technique" - this week we chose the "Scored Diamonds" technique.  This technique is found on the new Dies & Embossing CD and also the April 2010 issue of Technique Junkies.

I used all Club Scrap papers and a flower stamp from Michael Strong.  The Greeting is from Club Scrap, the button and fiber is from my stash

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to send your entry to the Technique Junkies group.  You can check out Beth's blog for her entry and information about the challenge.

Try That Thursday - Watercolor over White

I seem to be running late the past couple of weeks......the weather is great and a lot going on and I finally got some time to play this week.  The tech from Technique Junkies was to do the Watercolor over White from the Bonus Section of the 2006 CD.


For my cards, I used papers and images from Club Scrap.  I hope you enjoy :)

I hope you all had an opportunity to participate in the challenge and have checked out Beth's card on her blog.   We will both be back This Thursday with a new challenge and believe it or not - my card is done :)

thanks for stopping

Lavenders Blue Cards

I'm late in posting, but I did finally get a couple of cards posted for Kim at  Lavenders Blue Cards and Crafting website.  She has designed some digi pages and I printed and did what we call "Hybrid" cards - combination of digi and paper cards.

I hope you'll check out her site and see what she's got going.......and join in on the fun :)

I also did a couple of these as total digi cards....

.

Thanks for stopping by today......more to come soon :)

Try That Technique Thursday

I was late in getting this week's challenge posted.......due to matters of life interfering with my crafting.  Seriously, we had friends visiting and between friends, physical therapy and Dr appts, I just didn't get the card done in time. 

The challenge technique was the Twinkling Watercolor tech from the June 08 newsletter.  If you aren't a member of Technique Junkies, you can check this website for details in joining - it's well worth the few $$ it cost per year.

My card was made using all stamps and papers from Club Scrap, as I also entered it in our PSL card challenge for the week.  I hope you enjoy

 

Beth Norman and I have been challenging each other to this techniques for many months.  I hope you check out her entry.   If you are a member of Technique Junkies, please send in your entry to Techniquejunkies@yahoogroups.com email addy.

Thanks and I will look forward to seeing you the next time around 

Try That Technique Thursday

This week Beth and I challenged each other to the Double Bugging technique....This technique can be found on Technique Junkies  new Emboss & Die CD that is available for purchase here

I used papers from Club Scrap, the stamper image is also from Club Scrap and the Ribbon is from my stash.

 Don't forget to check out Beth's Springy card here and we hope you join in the challenge.

Try That Technique thursday

This week, Beth Norman and I challenged each other and the other TJ members to do a card using the Penciled Twinks technique from the Feb 08 newsletter.

I used a stamp and papers from ClubScrap - it's really hard to see the shimmer from the twinks in this scan, but in real life it's very pretty.

Would love to see what you can do with this Technique and if you aren't a member of Technique Junkies check out http://patstamps.com/ and it's easy to join.


Don't forget to check out Beth's Blog to see the amazing artwork she did with this.


I have been under the weather the last 2 weeks with pneumonia and am just now getting back into doing any crafting.  I will be adding some cards in the next few days that I've done for our Club Scrap PSL challenge

Thanks for stopping by

Try That Technique Thursday - Level Up

Beth and I opted for the "Level Up" Technique from the August 2010 Newsletter from Technique Junkies.  I used the Wood mounted stamp from the Adobe kit from Club Scrap to make this fun card.  All papers are from the same Adobe kit.  I hope you enjoy.

Don't forget to hop over to Beth's blog to see the fun card she has put together for this.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to leave some love :)

Try That Technique Thursday - Designer Squares

The design that was chosen this week for the Technique Junkie Try that Technique Thursday challenge is the Designer Squares from Aug 08 newsletter.  The papers on my card are from K & Co, stamps are from Club Scrap.  I hope you enjoy.

Don't forget to check out Beth's blog and I do hope you'll join in on the challenge.

Thanks for stopping and see you on the next trip. 

Try That Technique Thursday - Painted Puzzle

This weeks Try That Thursday Technique is the Painted Puzzle from the 2009 CD - it's the bonus technique only available on this CD.  You can order the CD's through the Technique Junkie blog

For my card I used all papers and stamps from Club Scrap Solstice kit.  To find out how to get these great papers, and stamps, and more check out he Club Scrap Site.

Be sure to check out Beth Norman's blog to see the fun card she created.  You can also find out how to get involved in this fun challenge.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see your entry soon