Giggles and Ginko

As I posted in my previous note I promised a summary of 'Naked Cupcake Night'. As one of six dormitories (okay - so these days they are call 'residence halls...') floor 'parents' to 40-some young men and women it is our 'duty' to come up with an activity or two every term (unlike MOST colleges we don't use a semester based calendar - we use a trimester system). Once per term we host 'Naked Cupcake Night'. Each of us 'parents' bake 2 dozen cupcakes leaving them unfrosted (naked). The students then spend the evening frosting, decorating, and eating cupcakes. There is an assortment of food coloring, sprinkles, other toppings and chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla frosting.

We have been hosting this event for three years now and it doesn't need explaining even to the freshman. Word quickly spreads that if you live on 4th floor Alverno - you have the good fortune of looking forward to 'Naked Cupcake Night'. It never ceases to amaze me and never ceases to tickle me to see these 'kids' squeal with delight when they look in the lounge to see what's going on - only to realize it's cupcake night. Some of the students decorate cupcake after cupcake - handing them off to students who would rather have a cupcake designed just for them without having to lift a finger. Some of the students decorate one - pop it in their mouth - decorate another one.... Some stop by - slather on an inch of frosting, heap on sprinkles and M&M's and run to an evening class or to the library to study. They jibber-jabber the whole time, there is always lots of giggles and of course there is oooohhhhhing and aaahhhing over their confectionery creations.

I think I look forward to cupcake night as much as the students do. To check out more pics check out the Briar Cliff University Facebook page. Here are three of my favs.

Next on the floor parent to do list - candy in each of their mailboxes for Halloween. Students ALSO love finding goodies in their mailboxes.

And now for a couple of cards. It started with wondering what using Copics on Kraft paper would look like...the color isn't nearly as vibrant as it is on white cardstock but for an autumn look I think it worked out well.

Rustic Leaves
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Vintage Cream~Layer of Basic Grey Archaic
~Strip of Basic Gray solid from Archaic collection - edges smudged (distressed) with black ink
~Layer of rust color cardstock with edges curve punched and distressed using black ink
~Layer of PaperTrey Ink Kraft cardstock
~Image is from Stampcraft Maple Leaf - colored with Copics and topped with Inkssentials Crackle Accents
~Image layer of cardstock run through Cuttlebug using Swiss Dots embossing folder...I ran it through upside down so instead of  'outies' I have 'inies'...I was really planning on bumps not dimples - but what they hay...
~Image layer also die cut using one of the label dies from Spellbinders and the Cuttlebug - I didn't want it to be as large as the die was so I chopped off about a third of the bottom and curve punched the two edges
~Rust colored sheer ribbon (which I must say if DIFFICULT to find) threaded through two small punched holes and tied into a simple bow
~Copper colored metal maple leaf brad in left upper corner
Challenges
Corrosive Challenge - Get Rid of the White
Paper Players - sketch
Basic Grey - use one BG item and autumn theme
C4C - fall/autumn theme

Pulling Leaves
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink - Aqua Mist
~Layer of PaperTrey Ink - Kraft - edges dredged through Versamark then embossed using Stampendous Wintergreen Pastel embossing powder (this is DEFINITELY from the "I actually BOUGHT this stuff?" pile
~Layer of PaperTrey Ink Vintage Cream - stamped with real leaves using Stampabilities Baby Blue and Versamark Polar Blue inks (Believe me - fall is certainly here - it wasn't easy finding leaves green and pliable enough to use)
~Center image cut from a background stamp (Stamps Happen - Ginko II) stamped using Versamark and embossed with Ranger Enamelware embossing powder
~Ribbon is the coolest thing ever - I ordered some from Paper Temptress where I get my FAVORITE cardstock for Copic Coloring (CryogenWhite Iridescent) - the Pull-It ribbon was ON SALE! It has a ready made pull string - so you just cut, cinch - and there you have it a perfect ribbon flower!
Challenge
Play Date Cafe - color theme - beige, pale blue, and pale 'mint-ish' green
Craftalicious - anything goes

I'm off to bed now...have to travel to Indianola, IA tomorrow for the day. Seven hours in the car for a five hour meeting..
All good wishes,
Nancy