A sympathy card

I sent this card to a friend of ours who's dog recently passed away.

Thoughts and prayers are with you, Jean.

The background is the shaving cream technique.

Colored with Prismacolor pencils and OMS to blend.

I left it simple...

Hogs and Sketches Challenge "hands1"

I just HAD to join in! It's the first Hogs and Sketches Challenge for Hambo Stamps!

I was really happy they offered a free digi design because I have not gotten my Hambo Stamps order placed yet! I guess this is incentive to get my order placed!! :D

I used their sketch (you can find it here) but I turned it on it's side.

I just loved their floating cat - how cute! So I gave her a lemonade and colored her in with my prismacolor pencils and OMS for blending.

I used the bingo dauber splatter technique as a background pattern paper. My wavy line was created with a very fine pink lace behind it - look close or you'll miss it!

My sentiment is on my printed ribbon - Sand...Sun...Fun!

Then I needed a little flair, so I used a tie-dye flower with a glittery brad center and a few blue raindrops to finish it off!

I had a lot of fun with this!

Anna Banana

Woo Hoo!

I'm super thrilled that I got a notice in my mail box just a few moments ago that I won the blog candy over at Starving Art Stamps!

And it's just in time too for some fun halloween cards!

This is the set I'll be getting:

DoodleFactory Costume Party

Now I'm off to the pharmacy to get something to make my head stop swimming.

Spreading the word

http://saturdayspotlight.blogspot.com/

There is going to be a new challenge blog starting in October, and I think it is going to be fantastic!!

Here is the main reason I think they will be fantastic challenges:

Quote from their new blog...

This is my philosophy behind this challenge blog:

"Be creative with NO boundaries or rules...feel free to interpret the challenges how you see them in your mind. All artwork forms are fun and welcoming as everyone has something talented to share! This challenge blog is not for me, but for YOU, for you to spotlight those talents and FIND that "hidden potential" inside yourself."

And on top of all this, they are being very generous to those who spread the word. Go over to check out the fantastic prize they will be drawing for among those who help out!

How exciting!!

Anna Banana

Whiff of Joy Guest Designer Call

Kiss A Frog! He may turn out to be a prince!

I came across a wonderful opportunity to apply for the Whiff of Joy guest Design team!!

I can not tell you how much I love their stamps!

To find out more details, go HERE.

This is the first card I have created for the Whiff of Joy Guest Designer Call:

Here is the recipe I used for my card:

Stamps: Melinda Blowing Kisses - Whiff of Joy, Frog - Inkadinkadoo

Paper: Patterned - Karen Foster (Archiver's Exclusive 2008), Cardstock - DCWV

Glitter: hand mixed green color for wings and flowers on pants, jet black on edge of black cardstock

Gold Twinklette pen - Marvy (The gold on her belt)

Pencils: Prismacolor, Odorless Mineral Spirits and Stumps for blending

Flowers: Prima and a mini-brad, Art Flower from Hero Arts Vintage Collage collection

Bling: Misc. Yellow rhinestone, Purple Swarovski rhinestones

Ribbons: Black Lace from Wal-Mart, Scrap of black organza ribbon, Orange velvet rickrack from Basic Grey "gypsy" collection, Black and White ribbon (off of a box of chocolates)

Dies: Nestabilities Small Classic Circle

Inks: White Galaxy Marker for Faux Stitching, Black Memento Ink, Grass Green Marvy Brush Marker (for frog), Yellow Glaze Pen by Sakura

Sticky Stuff: Pop Dots, Zots dimensional dots, Scotch double stick tape, Diamond Glaze (on frog)

Triangle Box

I made this one for some challenge or another - I just really liked the idea of this box!!

It matches the paper of the previous Gorjuss Girl card :)

I Break For Stamps Challenge

I participated in the I Break For Stamps challenge last week.

I just wanted to share my card!

I used a Gorjuss Girl stamp.

I had fun with this one because she is so cute and the flowers are so summery.

Enjoy!

Anna Banana

Good Deal!!

So I needed to get some sympathy stamps because we just got word of the 6th funeral for our family/friends since May and I ran out of pre-made cards.

Well, I picked up my stamps and then wandered down the clearance isle at Michael's.

I came across these two Martha Stewart paper packs:

So I couldn't pass up the paper pack with the lady bugs in it ... just too cute, and the other pack has a lot of neutral papers that can be for guys or girls. I wouldn't have bothered to get it, except for the price!!

Look closely at that price sticker ... here it is up close:

... yes, you ARE reading it right - Originally $19.99, reduced to $9.99 and further reduced to $2.49!! If they would have had more, I would have gotten them!!

That's my Unbelievable Purchase for the week!

Anna Banana

Addition to my studio

Hello everybody!

I added a new way of displaying my cards in my studio!!

I put up hooks and I strung some clothes line across...and then I used clothespins to attach the cards ... like they are hung out to dry!

The second area is on the slopped ceiling and I am planning to add some more line on the slope to be able to display even more of my cards.

Let me know what you think!!

Anna Banana

Twilight Tuesday Challenge

I'm So Excited!! Thanks to my dear, dear friend Karyn, who understands my addiction, I now know about the Twilight Tuesday Inspiration Challenge on TwilightTuesday.com.

If you like Twilight, I would head over there now and check out everyone else's creations too - there are some fantastic cards out there!

The requirements for this challenge are to use the color challenge of the Twilight colors (Silver/Red/Black) along with a stamp from The Greeting Farm.

It just so happens that last week I placed my order for a few stamps from The Greeting Farm and Edward arrived in the mail yesterday.

I set out right away to do this challenge.

I chose a black card stock for the base and built up from there.

I took a piece of white card stock and rand it thru my cuttlebug with the Textile embossing folder. I ran my Moulin Rouge Palette ink over the raised surface to make it really pop.

I grabbed a scrap of mirror-foil paper and cut and embossed that with my Oval Nestabilities die. You can see something reflecting in the highly mirrored surface on the left of Edward...oops!

I took some black lace by Model Crafts (from Wal Mart) and fixed it to the top and bottom of the embossed paper.

I stamped Edward (The Greeting Farm) in Black Memento Ink and colored him in with my Prismacolor pencils and blended it with OMS and stumps.

I stamped "Make Me Immortal..." by A Stamp in the Hand with the black, on white card stock, inked the edges in Moulan Rouge and added three silver brads.

Behind the corner of the oval and the sentiment, I placed two black feathers.

I glittered Edward with Prisma Glitter, because I love Vampires that Sparkle ... Doesn't he just Dazzle you??

As a finishing touch, I got out my Pearl Ex watercolor palette and my tiniest bristle paint brush and applied his mesmerizing Vampire eyes with Super Copper. I took a little but of Supper Russet and dabbed just a hint on his lips and he was perfect!

I pop dotted him on the silver oval and fixed it all to the card base!

I know my friend Dawn is going to try to steal him from me! She is more obsessed than I am. :)

Anna Banana