Well every year around this time Splitcoaststampers has a fun week of challenges for Fan Club members, hosted my Past & Present Dirty Dozen members.

 Each day you will want to check the Dare to Get Dirty thread—->HERE!! For challenges, and chatting 😀

 If you didn’t know, my term was March 2007 to August 2007. It was the beginning of many great things. It is truly an HONOR to be asked to be a part of the talented group of women.

Be prepared for a week of F-U-N!!!

“I” am hosting my own challenge Wednesday! So I hope you will pop in to join my challenge too!!

SOOOOO…………Lauraly decided she was going to do a Got Vellum? Challenge. I think I did a vellum challenge last year, and I also think I did the same technique! LOL! Oh well. I enjoy it.

 She emailed me to say said she thought of me and asked me to join in to make a sample for her! Well, of COURSE I would LOVE to. Vellum is my favorite thing 😀 Well that, acetate, and some bling 😀

So I went to work!

ib-blue-blooms-vellum.jpg Blue Bouquet

Mini-Bouquet was calling my name with this technique. I had just received my goody box of happy mail, and wanted to turn what seems like a very fun & whimsical set into something more elegant! I also wanted clean and simple-this was perfect-o! I am still in shcok that I used NO RIBBON!!

So for the vellum-I LOVE my vellum cardstock.  I stamped my flowers on the vellum with my Momento Ink (Tuxedo Black). I have to quickly say this is my new favorite black ink to use (yes it works with Copic’s like a dream!).

I turned my stamped vellum over to the back, layed it onto a mouse pad, and then took my embossing stylus, and “rubbed” in the open spaces. This makes the vellum pop forward like a 3D image in those areas. It also turns it white. I then took my Copic markers, and colored in the embossed areas. The white takes the color so nicely, and it lends a subtle 3D bloom.

When done turn over-VOILA!!

TIPS:

Use vellum CARDSTOCK! Not paper, there is a difference. Papertrey Ink sells it as does Stampin Up and some craft stores.

Don’t press too hard-your stylus will break through the vellum and ruin your creation

I found for even MORE pop of color color the FRONT of the image, after it is dry embossed!! The color is much more vibrant.

Adhere vellum with vellum adhesive or I personally LOVE clear glue dots! Simply place them UNDER the colored images and your won’t even notice they are there! Or you can use brads or eyelets as well.

Now for the rest of the card………….

I stamped the same flowers up along the right side, then colored! Gave it a nice look I think. I like ONE solid and ONE neutral. Its always a nice flowing palette that gives you a bit of POP! Black is always a great color for POP!!

 I added some glitter with my Copic glitter pen to the flower petals. I then added a few touches with my white gel pen.

DONE! Easy Peasy!!

I hope you get to try the challenge out. If you aren’t a SCS member this is the best week to join. Membership is pretty instant!

Well I have SOOOOOO much to do and catch up on since my mini vacation.

VACATION INFO-for those who want to know how it went……………

Jay and I had so much fun 😀 Nothing over the top to report. It was a RELAXING trip. That was the entire point. Just do nothing! LOL! We went boogie boarding (or should I say “I” went). The OCEAN was too cold for him. BIG BABY!!!

 I hadn’t done that since I was like 10 or 12. Brought back great memories. I had fun and I think he had fun watching, since I am sure it was amusing. I was cracking up the entire time as I’d try to catch a wave, then I’d miss, or fall flat on my face! LOL! It was all good till a wave went over my head and the salt got in my eyes. I was blinded for like 10 minutes! Kids get in the water, salt gets in their eyes they pop up and get going again. Boy talk about feeling old. Jay had to go get the towel and I STILL couldn’t see. I think the FUNNIEST part was we bought the KIDS boogie boards, and we used those for our venture! LOL! There I am swimming with a tiny Dora the Explorer board. Jay said people are going to think you are crazy. I really didn’t care. I was having fun, not hurting anyone, and hey-you live this life ONCE!

We basically just shopped, ate, relaxed and kept it LOW key!

We did get to meet with Melissa Bickford ( stamp designer for Papertrey Ink), and her hubby Rodney. They traveled our way for a nice meeting. We had lunch at Barnacle Bills. It was so much fun. They were super nice and the conversation just flowed. We were so wishing they lived closer by the end of lunch. They would be great to hang out with more!!  We talked stamping together while they sympathized with each-other! LOL! It’s amazing how all the men are the same, and all the stampers are the same. Jay apologized to Rodney several times as I encouraged Melissa on a few must have purchases! LOL!

Well that is it for today. Lots to get back to. Gee take a few days off and and all that is on the TO DO LIST  really PILES up!

Enjoy the challenges 😀

Ill be back tomorrow with a special post-