Metallic Challenge! (GSGC12)

I know it's not my week to add a challenge here to GSG, but I've been so slacking lately and completely missed a few week's worth of my responsibilities so I thought I'd jump in this morning! I hope you'll play along- this is open to EVERYONE (as always)!!


So my challenge to you is to make a card with something metallic, whether it be paper, hardware, cord, ink, embossing powder or all of the above (like my sample). I was thinking of making it a copper challenge, but since I know not everyone is a fan and since copper is no longer available in SU's catalog I decided to make it all metallics. So go for it, make something with anything metallic on it. Be creative! Don't forget to let us see your work- comment here with a link to your creation!!

If you upload your work of art to SCS, please use GSGC12 so we can find it!
Here's my card. For my details see my blog on the left (kristin moore).

GSGC11 How many??

Ready for another challenge??? I sure hope so!! I don't have my sample yet...but I will soon. My challenge to all of you is to use atleast three types of embellishments on your card or project. You can use as many of each kind, but there must be three kinds(for example-ribbon, brads, buttons or ribbons, brads, hardware...). Have fun and I hope you all are having a great week!! If you are reading this from convention...I hope you are having a BLAST!!!

GSGFS09 Meet Arin Burdo!!

This weeks Featured Swapper is Arin Burdo(arinstamps). Arin has an amazing galleryand her coloring is AWESOME!! Here is some more info on Arin!!
1. When did you become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator?January 2006

2. What is your all time favorite stamp set?Hmmm..tough one. Wild Rose. Or Baroque Motifs. Or A Happy Hi. Or From the Garden. Or... OK, I'll stop.

3. What is your stamping style?Whatever the challenge calls for!

4. What is your favorite color combination?I'm a very seasonal stamper, so lately I've been reaching for real red or orange with black and white. I've also been using pomegranate with soft sky a lot.

5. When not stamping or scrapbooking what is your favorite past time?Hiking. DH and I just started working on the 46 Adirondack High Peaks. We'll be 46ers in another 15 years or so!

6. What is one embellishment you could not live without?Definitely ribbon. I've been using a lot of buttons lately too.

7. Do you stand or sit when you stamp?I try to make myself sit. I usually stand but it bothers my back.

8. If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?Greece.

9. What is your favorite kind of chocolate or candy?Dark Chocolate, which really I consider to be a vitamin. Seriously -- it says so on the back of my bag of Hershey's Dark Chocolate Squares. I try to remember to take at least two a day.

10. What is your favorite kind food?Crab.

11. Favorite Restaurant?The King's Inn -- a local fine dining spot. Great food but the best part is the salad. You get a list of salad ingredients and check which ones you want; then they make your salad to order. Is that cool or what?

12. What is your guilty pleasure?Iced Mocha Lattes. I've recently developed an appreciation for pedicures though. We'll have to see if that develops into a problem.

13. What is your favorite stamping tool that you could not do with out?Blender pen... is that a tool? If not, circle punches.

Optional questions...

14. Are you married?15 years

15. What is your husband's name?Steve

16. Do you have children?Yup -- 2 sets! (2 teens and 2 preschoolers)

17. What are the name(s)and ages of your child(ren)?Paul (15), Abigail (12), Analise (5) and Benjamin (2)

18. What do you do for a living?I get paid to stamp, but not enough to call it a living -- just enough to spend whatever I want on craft supplies without raising Steve's suspicions of my addiction.

19. Where are you located?In the Adirondack Mountains in upstate NY.

20. What does your husband do for a living?He is a technician for Verizon.
Here are three of Arin’s favorite cards.

So, if you wanna play along, just pick a card of Arin’s, change a few things and be sure to use the keyword GSGFS09 on SCS. Plus, post a link to your creation in the comments here so that we can all be sure to see it!! Here is the card that I chose!! I changed the stamp set, colors, and added brads. I also didn’t do the stitching and changed the ribbon. Thanks and have a great day!! Congrats Arin!!

GSGC11 You guessed it!!

Yep, it is another sketch!! Anyone who knows me knows that I love sketch challenges the most, so here is my challenge for this week. Anyone can play along with, just be sure to include the keywords GSGC11 in your keywords on Splitcoast and leave a link here so we can all go check out your work!! My sample was made with the Pick a Petal stampset and for the flower center I covered a clear button with some DCWV glitter paper. I added some glitter to the polka dots on the flower petals with my Sakura Stardust glitter pen. I added some polka dotted ribbon from Offray to the bottom and then some black gingham and white grosgrain to a spiral clip at the top. The brads are the circle rhinestone brads sold by SU.

That is it for me now!! I sure hope you decide to play along!! Thanks and have a great day!

GSGFS08 Our Featured Swapper!

Ok ladies here is our latest Featured Swapper! Introducing Dawn McVey! How cute is she! I am sure we all know who she is- Her designs have been published in many publications and she is the newest design team member for Papertrey Ink (lucky duck) :-) Her eye for color and simple layouts are what drew me to her blog which is a must see! So here we go let's get to know Dawn a little better...

1. When did you become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator? 3 years ago, I think

2. What is your all time favorite stamp set? oh gosh, not sure I can choose just one!

3. What is your stamping style? clean & simple

4. What is your favorite color combination? pink passion, chocolate chip, kraft

5. When not stamping or scrapbooking what is your favorite past time? traveling with my hubby

6. What is one embellishment you could not live without? definitely ribbon!

7. Do you stand or sit when you stamp? sit

8. If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be? EUROPE! I love it there!

9. What is your favorite kind of chocolate or candy? dark chocolate

10. What is your favorite kind food? Oooh.....pizza or Mexican....wait, I love soup! Ack! I can't choose! LOL!

11. Favorite Restaurant? Sooo hard.....hmmm.....Spin Neopolitan Pizza

12. What is your guilty pleasure? sleeping in on Sat. mornings!

13. What is your favorite stamping tool that you could not do with out? My big paper cutter

Optional questions...

14. Are you married? Happily!!

15. What is your husband's name? Bart

16. Do you have children? Nope

here are some of Dawn's favorite cards:

Now it's your turn to case one of Dawn's cards being sure to change a few things about it. Also be sure to use code GSGFS08 and link it back here so we can see what you all did. I can wait to check it out! Have a great week everyone!

Weekly Challenge 6-23-08

Hi everyone! I just got back from a cruise so I don't have a sample for you yet but this week's challenge is a color/inspiration challenge. Here is a picture I found from Pier One. Please link your card back here and use code GSGC10. I can't wait to see what you all come up with.

Come on Down!! Our Next Featured Swapper...

BECKY CARAFA! She's our fearless leader and go-to gal for anything GSG! Becky is the brains behind our swaps and other important decisions. She is also extremely talented and a master (maybe even the inventor) of CAS- Clean And Simple style! Don't take my word for it, please be sure to visit her blog and her gallery!! Then choose something to be inspired by, make something of your own and link it here! If you save it to the SCS gallery please include the keywords GSGFS07!

Here is Becky's card that I chose to CASE and the one I did next. I changed my to a square and left off the corners (neither intentionally, that's just the way it ended up). The colors and stamps are also different, but I kept her main layout design and clean & simple style.

Get to know Becky a little bit and check out her answers below:

1. When did you become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator? 2 years ago almost exactly

2. What is your all time favorite stamp set? Hmmm, that's a tough one. I'm going to say
Always.

3. What is your stamping style? clean and simple all the way, baby

4. What is your favorite color combination? anything that goes with olive and chocolate!

5. When not stamping or scrapbooking what is your favorite past time? reading, shopping

6. What is one embellishment you could not live without? definitely ribbon, though brads are a close second

7. Do you stand or sit when you stamp? stand

8. If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be? Australia

9. What is your favorite kind of chocolate or candy? Heath bar

10. What is your favorite kind food? it's all good

11. Favorite Restaurant? Quaker Steak and Lube

12. What is your guilty pleasure? Warm Delights, especially the molten lava
chocolate cake one

13. What is your favorite stamping tool that you could not do with out? punches

Optional questions...

14. Are you married? yes

15. What is your husband's name? Chad

16. Do you have children? yes

17. What are the name(s)and ages of your child(ren)? Adam will be 2 in July

18. What do you do for a living? I taught physical education and other stuff for 6
years, but now I don't work

19. Where are you located? 20 miles east of Cleveland, OH

20. What does your husband do for a living? sells home improvement products for Sears
(who btw, has the worst employee discount EVER!!!)

21. What is one thing about you that the rest of us probably do not know? I play the piano, took
lessons for 10 years

Becky's Favorite Cards:

Bye, Bye, BABY!!

The retired list is up!! There were some tears shed as I read over the list of stamps that would no longer be demo-worthy. If you haven't seen it, you can access it HERE.

Your challenge this week is to use at least one of the retired sets. Don't have one? Well, I have lots that you could borrow! If you happen not to own a retired set, feel free to use a set that you would be devastated if it retired. Bonus points if you use the retiring In Color palette!

Remember, you don't have to be a demo or a GSG to play. Also, don't forget to link it back here and if you upload to SCS use the keywords: GSGC09

Hey...sorry to be so lame and not post a sample but I was out of town this week! :-) Loved everyone's farewell cards!

Featured Swapper- Vickie Waugh

Sorry this is late girls, my sister is in the hospital getting ready to have her baby, and I am running 90miles an hour trying to get ready!! This weeks featured swapper is Vickie Waugh(Vickieky). Vickie has a fabulous gallery and blog, so be sure to go check it out and CASE her. Don't forget to include the keyword GSGFS06 when uploading your card to SCS. Here are a few of her favorite cards!!
And here is some info about Vickie!

1. When did you become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator?April 2006,a little over 2 years ago. One of the best decisions I have made in my life :-)

2. What is your all time favorite stamp set?Embrace Life

3. What is your stamping style?This is hard, since my tastes are eclectic. I really prefer the clean and simple look.

4. What is your favorite color combination?Currently, I LOVE Always Artichoke, So Saffron and Blue Brocade. I discovered this combo when playing with the Le Jardin Designer paper.

5. When not stamping or scrapbooking what is your favorite past time?I am an avid reader! I just finished Debbie Macomber's Twenty Wishes, great book!!

6. What is one embellishment you could not live without?Without a doubt Ribbon!!

7. Do you stand or sit when you stamp?Definitely sit.

8. If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?Ohh, this is easy! Scotland! I would love to take 4-6 week vacation and travel Scotland, England and Ireland.

9. What is your favorite kind of chocolate or candy?I am not real big on sweets, though I do like frozen miniature reece cups.

10. What is your favorite kind food?Ribs :-)

11. Favorite Restaurant?Texas Road House!!

12. What is your guilty pleasure?A trashy romance novel about a Scottish Highlander! *sigh*

13. What is your favorite stamping tool that you could not do with out?My punches...sorry I can't narrow it down to just one :-)Optional questions...

14. Are you married?Yes for 3 1/2 years.

15. What is your husband's name?Gene

16. Do you have children?Unfortunatley no, but my dear hubby has two dogs, Buster and Blossom.

17. What are the name(s)and ages of your child(ren)?n/a

18. What do you do for a living?I have worked for Shawnee State University for 20 years now. I am currently a Record Tech 2 in the Registrar's Office.

19. Where are you located?I live in the Northeastern part of Kentucky. A little community calledSouth Shore.

20. What does your husband do for a living?He is sales part manager for Autozone. He has worked for them for about 15 years now. He also was in the Army for 10 years.

Sorry my sample will be late, got baby stuff to tend to, and I have to work today:(. Have a great day!!

I challenge you to USE IT!

Yep, you guessed it, this is a Ways to Use it Challenge. And today I am challenging you to use your crimper! You can use it in so many ways, see what you can come up with! Here is a link to all the cards in my gallery that I've used the crimper on.... and a link to all cards on SCS using the crimper in some way. If you want to think outside the box, make your card before you look at these other ideas! If you don't have a crimper or got rid of it thinking it had seen better days then play along by imitating the crimped look in some way. Have fun with it!

Can't wait to see what you come up with. I'll be playing along as well!

ETA: Sorry, I forgot to mention a few important details. Anyone can play along- you do not have to have a blog or be a member of GSG! Also, please put GSGC08 in the keywords if you post on Splitcoast. Wherever you post your creation please leave a comment here along with a link so we can see what you've done and show you some love! :)

Under Construction

We are making some changes here, please bear with us!

GSGC07 Another Sketch For You!!

Hello Ladies!! It is my turn to host the weekly challenge, and since I LOVE sketch challenges, that is what it will be!! I drew up this sketch in my paint program(because I have nothing else that will work), so it is a little rough, but I think you get the idea. Wanna play along? Great!! Just leave a link to your card in your comment and be sure when you upload to SCS that you include GSGC07 in the keywords! Anyone can play, even if you are not a GSG member!! My card was made using the set She’s All That. I stamped her in Brocade Blue and cut her out with my Oval Nestabilities. The DP is by Basic Grey and it is part of their cupcake line. The flower is a Maya Road Chipboard flower and the hardware came from the Stylized Silver hardware. I pierced a few holes in each corner to break up the white space. That is it for me for now!! There is no time limit, so feel free to play along any time you want!! Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!
Stamps-She’s All That
Paper-Ruby Red, Barely Banana, Whisper White and Basic Grey
Ink-Brocade Blue
Tools-Maya Road chipboard, stylized silver hardware, white taffeta, Cuttlebug, Oval Nestabilities,

Occasions Mini Sketch Challenge

Ready for another challenge???

I just love the current Occasions Mini Collection. There are some amazing layouts in those 23 pages! Your challenge is to create a card using one of the sketches from the current mini collection. You can switch out the stamps, embellishments, and colors but keep the same basic layout. Please be sure to let us know which layout you used (page number) and don't forget to link back here so we can be inspired!! If you post on SCS, please us the code GSGC06. Remember, you don't have to be a GSG to play. Can't wait to see what you talented ladies come up with! :-)

I combined this challenge with today's Limited Supplies Challenge on SCS to come up with these three cards:
The layouts are from (left to right) p. 12, p. 4, and p. 22.
The recipe is identical for all three!
Recipe:
Stamps: always
Paper: kraft, certainly celery, notebook dp, whisper white
Ink: purely pomegranate, groovy guava
Accessories: corner rounder, styled silver hodgepodge, blender pen, celery ribbon

Featured Swapper-GSGFS05

Hi girls I'm (Monique) back with my pick for featured swapper. Here she is,The Featured Swapper of the week! Introducing Jimmi Mayo. If you have not checked out her blog it is a must see. Not only is she a very talented stamper( I love her designs and her color combinations) but she has a black belt in shopping. She has great links for shopping on her blog as well!

Here are two of her favorite cards, one is old and one is new:

Here are 20 questions to get to know Jimmi:

1. When did you become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator?

I became demonstrator in January of 2007 when my sister moved to Italy, who was my demonstrator.

2. What is your all time favorite stamp set? Roses In Winter

3. What is your stamping style? Hard question! If someone can figure it out, let me know;)

4. What is your favorite color combination? Almost anything with Certainly Celery! Certainly Celery and Pretty in Pink or Chocolate Chip or all 3.

5. When not stamping or scrapbooking what is your favorite past time? Shopping!

6. What is one embellishment you could not live without? Ribbon most definitely

7. Do you stand or sit when you stamp? I've never really heard of standing and stamping but I'd like to see it...I sit.

8. If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be? To Italy to see my new baby niece and my other niece of course (and my sis and bil but they are always 2nd to the nieces;))

9. What is your favorite kind of chocolate or candy? Reese Peanut Butter Cups, but I prefer the specialty shaped Reese's like the Easter eggs and trees at Christmas...right now they have Batman shaped ones that I have been buying up every time I go to Wawa!

10. What is your favorite kind food?Mexican

11. Favorite Restaurant?La Tolteca, a little run down Mexican place we try to go to every Friday night. We've been going there for over 10 years.

12. What is your guilty pleasure?Shoes, Vera Bradley and TIVO

13. What is your favorite stamping tool that you could not do with out?My paper snips

14. Are you married?Yes for almost 9 years

15. What is your husband's name?Mike

16. Do you have children?Yes

17. What are the name(s) and ages of your child(ren)?Rachel, just turned 16

18. What do you do for a living?I am officially a "legal secretary" but I mostly surf the internet, blurf and sometimes stamp...it's slooow around here!

19. Where are you located?Suffolk, VA

20. What does your husband do for a living?He is a Hydraulic Mechanic

Ok here is the card I chose to CASE of Jimmi's -

And here is my version of her AWESOME card! I LOVE this card so much that I didn't want to change it so I kept most of the same elements:

Here are the details:

Paper- Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery and Very Vanilla

Stamp Set- Fabulous Flowers and Much Appreciated

Inks-same as paper

Other- Chocolate chip taffeta ribbon, pearls (pretties kit) sponge

Ok here is what I changed: the colors to Celery and Very Vanilla and kept the Chocolate Chip. I changed the background stamp to En Francais, I changed the brads and eyelets to pearls and I made the flower pop out with four layers and crinkled it. I also change the ribbon and added an extra layer to the base card.

Ok girls have fun with this challenge and if you participate be sure to use code GSGFS05 and link it back here. Happy Stamping!

Featured Swapper: Lisa Henke!

Good Wednesday morning everyone! Thanks for checking in to GSG today. I've got a new Featured Swapper in store for you today. Introducing my dear {virtual} pal and upcoming Convention roommate, Lisa Henke!!! Lisa has the neatest style of stampin' and also is a talented scrapbook artist... of course she has 3 adorable subjects to focus on, that helps!!

Lisa's sweet, fun and always helpful personality also shines through in all she does! To get to know here more read her answers to the following questions, then check out her amazing blog, My Little Creative Escape, and her SCS Gallery so you can play along with the challenge!

1. When did you become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator? October 2004

2. What is your all time favorite stamp set? ooo, that is a hard one, I really do use all my stuff, but since you are making me pick one I guess I'll have to say Baroque Motifs. I swear, I don't think you can make a bad card with that set.

3. What is your stamping style? Usually quick, clean and simple. I use to not own any line art stamps, but that has changed over the past year and now I love to watercolor. Now if I can just make myself splurge and get some of those Copics...

4. What is your favorite color combination? Pumpkin, pomegranate, and choc. chip.

5. When not stamping or scrapbooking what is your favorite past time?
just hanging out with my family. I also like to cook and to read.

6. What is one embellishment you could not live without? Ribbon, my cards feel so naked without it.

7. Do you stand or sit when you stamp? sit

8. If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be? I'd love to see Europe, since I've never been, but Hawaii is always at the top of my list.

9. What is your favorite kind of chocolate or candy? I have a big sweet tooth, so I'll eat just about anything. But again, since you are making me pick one I love frozen snickers minis.

10. What is your favorite kind food? Seafood-crab, and shrimp and when I can afford it Lobster tail!

11. Favorite Restaurant? The Precinct, it is a Jeff Ruby Restaurant here in Cinci which is an upscale steakhouse. We had our rehearsal dinner there and we try to go back every year for our Anniversary.

12. What is your guilty pleasure? Reality TV. I am an avid watcher of The Bachelor, Rock of Love, American Idol, and Survivor.

13. What is your favorite stamping tool that you could not do with out? I'm lumping them all together, but my Punches.

14. Are you married? yes, we are celebrating our 8th anniversary in July

15. What is your husband's name? Tim

16. Do you have children? yep, three little boys, and two fur babies

17. What are the name(s)and ages of your child(ren)? the boys are 6, 4, and 1 yrs. old

Boomer, a Golden retriever (8yrs. old)
Annabelle, a cat (9yrs. old)

18. What do you do for a living? I'm a hard working mom!

19. Where are you located? Cincinnati, OH

20. What does your husband do for a living? He's a physician

21. What is one thing about you that the rest of us probably do not know? I think it is interesting that purple is my favorite color, but I rarely use the color when stamping.

Here are a few of Lisa's favorite cards:

Now it's your turn! Go visit Lisa's gallery and pick a card to CASE. Change at least two things on it and then post a link back here so that we can see your work. So that they are all visible in the same gallery, be sure to include GSGFS04 in your keywords when uploading to SCS.

Don’t have a gallery?? Just post it on your blog and post the link here in your comment. Be sure when posting your card that you provide a link to the card of Lisa's that you CASEd so she gets credit for the design. I encourage everyone to play- don't worry if you're not a member of GSG, we want YOU to play too! Have a great day, and Congratulations Lisa!

Here is Lisa's card I CASEd and mine. Hers has a cute fold which I didn't realize until too late. Obviously I changed a few things like stamps and colors, but I think you can see the similarities. I love this layout and card of Lisa's and will be working with it again!

Color Challenge GSGC05

Ok Girls here is this week's color challenge. I don't know about you but I (Monique) always have a problem using Kraft card stock. So I decided to do a color challenge using Kraft card stock and I have discovered that Sahara Sand goes perfectly with Kraft. I hope you all participate and if you do please link your card back here. Your challenge code is GSGC05. Have fun girls!

Kraft/Sahara Sand

Coral Cameo

Certainly Celery


Here is my card:


Stamp set- Always

Paper- Kraft, Whisper White, Coral Cameo

Inks- Certainly Celery, Coral Cameo, Sahara Sand

Other-1 1/4 circle punch, sponge, pewter buckle (hodgepodge hardware), small circle punch, wide grosgrain ribbon in celery, dimensionals

Featured Swapper-Lori Tecler!!

Hey Everyone, it‘s me again(Jessie waving HI!!)!! Hope you are having a great week! I am honored to get to post this week’s Featured Swapper Lori Tecler!!

I am a huge fan of her work, and if you haven’t seen her gallery, you need to go now!! She also has a fantastic blog!! Here is her favorite card!!(so far!!) And here is the card of Lori’s that I chose to CASE. I changed the: colors, images and added a few layers. I asked Lori some questions so we could all get to know her better!! Here are her answers!!

1 . When did you become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator?
I became a demonstrator in January 2005. I'm pretty much a hobby demo. I'm so excited to be going to Convention again this year!2. What is your all time favorite stamp set?That changes all the time! Some of my favorites right now are Priceless, Stem Silhouettes, and Vases in Vogue.
3. What is your stamping style?Usually clean and simple.
4. What is your favorite color combination?
I love blue and brown together. Blue is definitely my favorite color.
5. When not stamping or scrapbooking what is your favorite past time?
I read a lot and pretty much anything (memoirs, professional literature, classics, "chick" lit, you name it, it's probably represented in the pile next to my bed!). I always have at least one book underway and several more waiting. I also like to shop (probably more than I should . . .)
6. What is one embellishment you could not live without?Right now, ribbon. If you walked into my craft area, you'd definitely know that. It's spilling out everywhere!
7. Do you stand or sit when you stamp?I usually sit. My dog is usually milling around near or under my feet when I'm stamping, so sitting is much safer for both of us!
8. If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?
Europe. In addition to my education degree, I have a degree in history, so all the old "stuff" fascinates me. I've spent a little time in England and Belgium, but there's so much more I want to see.9. What is your favorite kind of chocolate or candy?I'm not a big chocolate fan (long story behind that . . .), but I do like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups or Twix.
10. What is your favorite kind of food?Mexican
11. Favorite Restaurant?A local Mexican restaurant called El Mariachi.
12. What is your guilty pleasure?Reading gossip/tabloid magazines (my best friend and I swap them with each other!) and watching General Hospital.
13. What is your favorite stamping tool that you could not do with out?
Only one? I use my mat pack and paper piercing tool all the time, but my Nestabilities dies are a close second right now.14. Are you married?No
15. Do you have children?No kids--just a big, crazy German shepherd/Golden retriever mix named Cosmo. He's 12 years old, but still looks and acts like he's a puppy and is always getting into some kind of trouble.
16. What do you do for a living?I consider myself as a kindergarten teacher, but now I work in the early childhood office for a large school district. I'm almost done with my (second) masters degree. I have two more classes to take in June, then I'll graduate with a degree in instructional technology. Who knows what I'll do then . . .
17. Where are you located?Suburbs of Washington, DC

So here’s the deal- go to Lori’s gallery and pick a card to CASE, change atleast two things on it and then post a link back here so that we can see your work. So that they are all visible in the same gallery, be sure to include GSGFS03 in your keywords when uploading to SCS. Don’t have a gallery, just post it on your blog and post the link here in your comment. Be sure when posting your card that you provide a link to the card of Lori’s that you CASEd so she gets credit for the design. As always, you don’t have to be a Great Swaps Girl to participate, so if you are out there lurking on the sidelines, be sure to play with us!! Thanks for looking and have a great day!!

Challenge #4: Survivor Style!

Ready for another challenge?
As demos, we see some of our favorite stamps, colors, paper, and embellishments come and go! Your challenge this week is to make a card with things you don't think you could survive without. Think of them as luxury items if you were stranded on an island! Of course, we all know that we couldn't live long without our craft desks....but give it a try!

Here are the rules:
stamps- use only 1 set
colors ink/paper- pick the 2 you couldn't live without and any number of neutrals, no limit on dp (sorry but I wouldn't travel without my entire dp stash!)
tool- only 1 TYPE of tool
embellishment- only 1

You don't have to be a GSG to play or even be a demo. We would love to see your work! :-)
Have fun and be sure when you post your picture on SCS to include the keywords GSGC04 so we can all see what you can't live without. Also, don't forget to post a link to your card here!

Here is my sample.
My luxury bag contains:
ALL of my punches, 5/8" grosgrain ribbon (every color!), real red, old olive & kraft, tart & tangy stamp set, and the scraps I have left from the retired cerise dp! :-(

Denise Hinton ~ Featured Swapper!!

Hi!
Our Featured Swapper for this week is Denise Hinton!!! (isn't she cute!)

Here are some of Denise's favorite cards!



1. When did you become a Stampin' Up!
Demonstrator?
Aug 2005
2. What is your all time favorite stamp set?
aaaaggghhh... Baroque Motifs... only because
you're making me pick just one!
3. What is your stamping style?
Bi-polar... I sometimes have energy for lots of
detail, most of the time I lean toward simple.
4. What is your favorite color combination?
Anything with Chocolate Chip!
5. When not stamping or scrapbooking what is
your favorite past time?
Hanging out at home or with friends
6. What is one embellishment you could not
live without?
hmm... probably metal stuff like brads, eyelets,
staples, hodgepodge hardware...
7. Do you stand or sit when you stamp?
I prefer to stand since i'm constantly moving
around, but will sit for coloring or detail work.
8. If you could go anywhere in the world where
would it be?
I would go anywhere... I love to travel! This
fall, we're going back to Munich, then to Paris
and Barcelona by train.
9. What is your favorite kind of chocolate or
candy?
Plain M&M's... I can eat an entire bag if someone
doesn't take it away from me.
10. What is your favorite kind food?
Mexican food hands down... it usually comes with
margaritas!
11. Favorite Restaurant? Bear Flag Republic -
it's a microbrewery we walk to every weekend. We
enjoy sitting at the bar, eating garlic fries &
drinking beer and waiting for the "eniqma" to
come in. She can drink a 20oz glass of beer in
less than 2 minutes. Honest! We time her.
12. What is your guilty pleasure?
Old fashioned donuts!!
13. What is your favorite stamping tool that
you could not do with out? I don't have any of
the fancy embossing tools or cropadile... so i
will say my hand held punches to set eyelets,
make holes for brads, etc.
Optional questions...
14. Are you married?
Yes, 17 years this September
15. What is your husband's name?
Keith
16. Do you have children?
Human- 0, Fur Babies- 3
17. What are the name(s)and ages of your
child(ren)?
Trooper the cat (14), Joey Dangerbutt (8) and
Mitzi Mitzalicious (9?)
18. What do you do for a living?
Police/Fire dispatcher
19. Where are you located?
Healdsburg, CA - 1 hr north of San Francisco in
the beautiful wine country of Sonoma County
20. What does your husband do for a living?
Civilian Supervisor at another police agency

I have been so lucky to get to know Denise. She is one of the nicest online friends I have!! Not to mention, she rocks with her talent and generosity with anything computer related! If you have not already, make sure you check out her site where she showcases some of the blog banners she's created!

If you want to play along .....
Check out Denise's SCS Gallery to see all her creations and choose one to case!
1. Change a few things about the card. It can be the layout, the colors, the stamp sets, embellishments etc.

2.Please provide the link to her original card with your cased card.

3. Please put GSGFS02 in your title so we can identify your cards on your SCS gallery or your blog.

4. Leave us a comment to this post with a link to your card on your SCS Gallery or your blog.

5. Have fun!

Inspiration Challenge!

Well, here is the Great Swaps Girls first Inspiration Challenge. I hope you like it and decide to play along! Please use the picture (from Pottery Barn Kids) to inspire you to create something- it can inspire the colors, patterns, texture, theme or whatever you want! Then be sure to post a link here so we can all view your creations! Please use the keyword GSGC03 in your keywords in the gallery. We can't wait to see what you come up with!!

Here is the sample I came up with. I was inspired by the colors and patterns, and even the designs on the wall that reminded me of my favorite stamp in the set Snow Burst!

Stampin' Up! Supplies

Stamps: Snow Burst, It's Your Birthday

Cardstock: Ballet Blue, Purely Pomegranate, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Certainly Celery & Rose Red Prints

Accessories: Circle Punches (1/2", 3/4", 1", 1 1/4", 1 1/8"); Wild Wasabi striped ribbon, white gel pen

Ink: Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate, Certainly Celery, Ballet Blue, Whisper White

Challenge No.2, WOOHOO!!!

I am so excited to get to be the hostess of this weeks challenge. I have made it pretty simple for you!! This weeks challenge is a sketch challenge. Feel free to alter it slightly, but try to stay true to the sketch. If you need to, the small circle can be a different shape!!

I wasn't sure how to make the "model" of the sketch, but I got into my paint program and made it work!! Here is my sample!! Have fun and be sure when you post your picture to include the keywords GSGC02 so that we can all see your creations. Also, post a link to your card here if you do or do not have a blog!!

Thanks for playing and have a great day!! And remember, this challenge is open to anyone so please feel free to play along!!

Our First Featured Swapper!

This is our first featured swapper and I am sure we all know the rules to play along but just in case you don't here they are. One great swap girl will be picked and we are to case one her cards from her gallery or her blog.

1. Change a few things about the card. It can be the layout, the colors, the stamp sets, embellishments etc.

2.Please provide the link to her original card with your cased card.

3. Please put GSGFS01 in your title so we can identify your cards on your SCS gallery or your blog.

4. Leave us a comment to this post with a link to your card on your SCS Gallery or your blog.

5. Have fun!

Jackie's blog is www.thescallopededge.typepad.com

Jackie's SCS name is Strappystamper

Introducing Jackie Pedro! I picked Jackie as the featured swapper because I love the clean lines of her cards. Here are a few facts about Miss Jackie...

1. When did you become a Stampin' Up Demonstrator?
I signed up with Stampin' Up as a Hobby Demo in July of 2007

2. What is your all time favorite stamp set?
I would have to say that Stem Silhouettes is one of my all time favorite sets!!

3. What is your stamping style?
I'm not sure I have one particular style!! I love the CAS (clean and simple) look and I also
love the really embellished cards. It depends on my mood, I guess...

4. What is your favorite color combination?
ANYTHING with Chocolate Chip!! LOL!!

5. When not stamping or scrapbooking what is your favorite past time?
I love to read, but certainly do not do enough of it, and I love to spend time checking out
a long list of blogs and of course Splitcoast. I especially love spending time with my
family.

6. What is one embellishment you could not live without?
I could not live without brads or ribbon....Oh, that's two...hmmmm.....

7. Do you stand or sit when you stamp?
I usually sit, but am up and down....

8. If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?
I would love to return to the island of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. My hubby and I
visited St. Thomas on a Caribbean cruise we took for our first anniversary and I loved it!!

9. What is your favorite kind of chocolate or candy?
I LOVE Recess Peanut Butter cups (bite sized) cold straight out of the fridge!!

10. What is your favorite kind of food?
I love Italian and Mexican food!! Yummy....

11. Favorite Restaurant?
Giorgio's Italian Restaurant....

12. What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
I never feel guilty for any pleasure!!! LOL!!

13. What is your favorite stamping tool that you could not do with out?
I could not live without my Cuttlebug and embossing folders and my mat pack and
piercing tool....again that's two....hmmmmm...

14. Are you married?
Yes and happily for almost 12 years....

15. What is your husband's name?
Frank

16. Do you have children?
Yes...two daughters.

17. What are the name(s) and ages of your child(ren)?
Lauren (9) and Sarah (6).

18. What do you do for a living?
I'm a domestic goddess....or what most people would call a SAHM!

19. Where are you located?
San Jose, California. I've lived here my whole life...

20. What does your husband do for a living?
He is a lineman with Pacific Gas and Electric...the largest power company in CA

Here is a picture of Jackie's favorite card that she has done.

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