Happy 1st Day of the Christmas Season

Sure, isn't today the 1st day of the holidays? I know most everybody considers this the biggest shopping day of the year. I guess I'm a bit of a scrooge because this is the one day of the year that I definitely don't shop! It's a day to recuperate from too much cooking and then too much eating. Of course, you still need to eat some turkey left-overs today too! Yum. I just love those left-overs! It's almost better than chocolate!! But not quite!

I've been working on several larger projects for the last week or so. (I keep getting sidetracked by family.) One of the projects was pronounced finished today. This is a pennant banner that is now hung on my bamboo curtains that hide one of my storage shelves in my 'creativity area'.

Both sizes of the Pennant die were used - 3 large for the word, and 2 small for the ends. Plus the Snowflake Set #2 dies were used for accents. Then I found a cool Frame and Holly Sizzix die at the JoAnn's store on sale Tuesday. (love those sales!) And then there were some rhinestone brads and Stickles glitter added. It's really pretty in person. Wish you could all be here to see it!

All materials by SU! unless listed otherwise.

Stamps: none

Dies: Pennants, Snowflakes Set #2, Bigz Serif Essentials Alphabet, Sizzix Scallop Frame with Holly Dies

Papers: Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, and Holiday Treasures DSP

Accessories: Baja Breeze Striped Grosgrain, Ice Rhinestone Brads, Snowflake Punch (retired), Pewter Jumbo Brads, Red Glitter (retired). And Stickles Frosted Lace.

I was pleasantly surprised by how the tiny Stickles dots on the snowflakes and the large scallop circle really showed up on the Baja Breeze cardstock. It really added some nice dimension to the design and added a little brightness too. It's really funny that I had purchased the Frosted Lace Stickles last Christmastime when I saw it on a snowflake card and fell in love. And then I hadn't used it once in all that time. Oh well, it was sitting there patiently waiting for me when it was needed. See, that's why you need to keep everything - you never know when you're gonna need it!

Hope you're having fun shopping out there...

Sharon

Oops! I'm really slipping up here! Way back when I showed you a glimpse of a card for this month's class, but never showed you the completed project. How silly of me! This is one of my most favorite cards I've ever made. I think the ladies at class liked it too. (They weren't crazy about all the cutting out, but that's what makes the card so special!)

All materials by SU!

Stamps: Autumn Harvest, Sanded, Define Your Life

Papers: Always Artichoke, Apricot Appeal, Pumpkin Pie, and Very Vanilla

Inks: Basic Brown, Pumpkin Pie, Apricot Appeal, Always Artichoke Pads, and Chocolate Chip Marker

Accessories; Rich Regals Brads, Aqua Painter, Sponge quarters, Dimensionals.

The most fun making this card was doing the watercoloring. I kept going between the colors and not cleaning my brush so there was a multitude of shading and mixing of the ink colors. Looked like my yard with the pumpkins sitting side by side and the leaves swirling down from the trees.

Now on to more current projects. I was perusing Patty Bennet's blog here: http://pattystamps.typepad.com/pattys_stamping_spot/2008/10/5-fun-free-day-projects---part-2.html I loved the idea she had for this gift card holder. So I shamelessly copied it with a change or two.

This is just too cute in my humble opinion. I've got it hanging on my display tree right now. SU! has soooo many different kits to make your own ornaments or other decorations that you just have to try at least one! Or maybe all of them! (I'd be happy to help you with that!) I've been making them and giving them away to my hostesses. I hope they will use them and enjoy them for a long time.

Stamps: Snow Swirled, Hugs and Wishes, and Warm Words

Papers: Baja Breeze, Whisper White

Inks: Baja Breeze, Real Red

Accessories: Big Shot with Scallop Circle and Scallop Circle #2 Dies, Snow Blossom Punch, Pewter Jumbo Eyelet, Crop-a-dile, White Narrow Grosgrain, Red Gingham, 2-Way Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter

If you'd like to make some of these, come on over for the classes in December. This will be one of the projects we'll be making. We'll have at least 2 different gift card holders. I'm working on the reast of the projects for class. We need to get all set for Christmas so we can enjoy the holiday and not be totally stressed out. ;-)

Have a great day. Try to stay warm. And happy stamping!

Sharon

Good to be back in the saddle...???

Yes, it's good to be back stamping again. Forget about the saddle - I wouldn't know what to do with it anyway! I managed to pull a muscle in my back last week and it's taken awhile to get back to stamping. Too much twisting and turning, bending and lifting those heavy stamps, ya know.
Last night was my downline meeting, so I had to make my swaps (Wednesday) and plan for the evening. Not too many ladies showed up, but we had a good time and the swaps were awesome!! We actually had more people swapping than expected so I didn't get one of everyone else's swap. Boo hoo... I didn't want to deprive anyone else! Anyway, I always make extra of my cards to use later. Forget it, they were all gone. I couldn't remember exactly what I'd made, but I tried to make anyother as close to the original as possible to share with all of you.

Ta Da!! I just love this little penguin guy. I didn't put any Christmas words on this card, so it can be used in January when you're celebrating skiing or snowman making. How fun is that idea?

Of course, all products are SU! (except for that little white plastic snowflake thingie that I've had forever!)

Stamps: Punch Pals, Best Wishes and More
Paper: Kraft, Whisper White, Baja Breeze
Ink: Baja Breeze, Basic Black Classic ink and White Craft ink, Going Gray, So Saffron, and Certainly Celery Markers
Accessories: Sponge, Snowflakes #2 Dies, BigShot, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Mini glue Dots, Dimensionals

I thought it was surprising how airy the sky looked after adding the white craft ink snowflakes. I had just used the Baja Breeze at first. Adding white just opened it up and gave it a much nicer look. Way too dark without the white touches.

Hope you enjoy the card today. I'll be back sooner than last time - I promise!!
Hugs,
Sharon

One of Those Days

Have you ever had one of those days? Maybe I better explain what I mean by that before asking the question. It's Monday night, a cold, damp, blustery Monday night. It's also class night which makes it better. But two people already called to cancel. Not so good. My husband comes home for his two coffee breaks and lunch. (He's a truckdriver so he can do that when he's in the area) Anyway, it's 6:45 and ladies will be arriving soon, so he figures it's time for him to skedaddle. He grabs the door knob and pulls - it comes off in his hand! He can't get out the door. And my ladies won't be able to get in!! He went out the front door and pushed the side door open from outside. He then ran downstairs to get his tools and stuck some plyers on the little thingie sticking out of the door. My new door handle, how cool!! Oh well, at least the ladies didn't seem to mind at all. He got off work, picked up a new handle at Lowe's on the way home, and had the new handle installed before everyone left. Oh yeah, two more ladies didn't call to cancel or show up. Some things are good, some not so good. But a handy hubby is wonderful!

Anyway, stamping is always good. Even when the card doesn't quite turn out as planned. Hmmm - that seems to happen alot. I wish you could see this card in person. The glittery snowy hills just Pop! How cute and quick. Alot of the ladies at class tonight were oohing and ahhing about it. Too bad, it wasn't one of the projects for class. But I'll give you the information in case you want to make this snowguy yourself.

All materials and stamps by SU! of course.

Stamps: Merry & Bright and All Holidays

Paper: Bashful Blue and Whisper White

Ink: Basic Black and Handsome Hunter Classic and Whisper White Craft Ink

Accessories: 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, AquaPainter

That's it! Super easy and cute to boot. Wouldn't you like to get this one in the mail??

Thanks for stoppin' by,

Sharon

A Yellow Kind of Day

I got up this morning (way too early for those of you that know me) and dragged myself into the kitchen. Through bleary eyes I looked outside and all I could see was yellow! Our maple tree that is in the middle of the yard had morphed into a yellow monster. And under it, the world had turned yellow also. The yard was covered in yellow. My car was covered in yellow. Everything was yellow! How can there be so many yellow leaves on the ground and on my car, but the tree still looks full of yellow leaves too?!

I had been planning on creating the last 2 cards for my classes next week, and the first thing that popped in my foggy mind was yellow Christmas cards. Ya know, yellow trees, yellow snowmen. Ack!! What was I thinking?! With yellow sugarplums dancing in my head, I turned around and went back to bed. What else could I do?

Once the yellow thoughts were out of my mind, things went along much smoother today. I've been working on three projects simultaneously. In other words, nothing really got finished in the stamping department, but the laundry got done. So all was not lost.

Instead I'm sharing two cards that were made about two weeks ago. I love to watercolor. (must be a frustrated pre-schooler or something) Sorry the picture quality is a little fuzzy. Not sure what I did wrong, but I couldn't get it any clearer. All materials and stamps are SU!

Stamps: Harvest Home

Paper: Old Olive, Baroque Burgundy, Very Vanilla

Ink: Basic Brown, More Mustard

Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Bigz Die, Sponge quarter, Aqua Painter, WaterColor Wonder Crayons, Old Olive Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon

This 2nd card also used the WaterColor Wonder Crayons (which I love, love, love). It's so much fun playing with the colors layering one over another til I achieve what I want. I wish you could see these in person - they're really gorgeous! I keep looking at them in surprise that I really made them. All materials and stamps by SU! of course.

Stamps: Harvest Home, Canvas and Holidays & Wishes

Paper: Brocade Blue, Creamy Caramel, Old Olive, and Very Vanilla
Inks: Basic Brown

Access: Choc.Chip Grosgrain, Word Window Punch, Aqua Painter, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, and Sponge quarter

Hope you like my offerings today. Maybe tomorrow I'll actually get something finished for you.

Just wanted to say a quick hi to the ladies at the workshop last night. Thanks Michelle for having me over. And it was a hoot spending time with Sue, Heidi, Terri, Marty and the rest. You all made my night. I was still chuckling about some of the discussion topics on my way home last night.

Hugs,

Sharon

Short day in the dungeon

Boy, I wish the rest of our fall continued on just like today. But a quick fling outside was all I could manage if I was going to make good on my promise yesterday to make more simple and quick cards. It's so nice outside I really had trouble coming down to 'the dungeon' to work. Oh, I really shouldn't call the basement 'the dungeon', but sometimes it feels like I've spent the greatest portion of my life down here. I guess I'm very lucky that I can send time doing crafts of one sort or another pretty much everyday. But I digress....

Here is the latest version of Season of Simple Grace. Again it is a very quick with just 2 colors of cardstock used, and 2 inks. Add a little white gel pen and glitter, and that's it. Easy, peasy. It's a tri-fold card, using a different portion of the Nativity story on each of the sections. The card front doesn't fold over to cover the next section. The 11" length is scored at 3" and 8".

All materials and stamps by SU!

Stamps: Season of Simple Grace
Papers: Night of Navy and Bashful Blue

Inks: Night of Navy and Bashful Blue

Accessories: White Gel Pen, Sponge quarter, 2 way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds

Now isn't the card nice looking and something you'd like to get in the mail? I'm hoping others think so too, because I'll be making a few more of these. I really like how the gel pen swirls show up on the little lamb. How cute is that.

I was on a roll with these quickie cards, so the snowflakes were next. I had already used my Big Shot and Sizzix Snowflake 2 Die to make some snowflakes. I got an idea to try using the outline of the diecut to sponge color onto the card. This is the outcome. What do ya think??

Again the card only uses 2 colors of cardstock, and 2 colors of ink. Of course this one has added embellishments of the Little Felt Flurries and ribbon. Just love how soft and simple this is.

All materials and stamps by SU!

Stamps: Heard From the Heart

Papers: Whisper White, Baja Breeze

Ink: Baja Breeze

Accessories: White Taffeta Ribbon and Little Felt Flurries, Sponge quarter

That's it. Can't get too much easier than this. And that's it for today. I didn't get as much done as I'd planned. My dear daughter Heather came by for a visit today. It was nice spending time with her and catching up on all our goings on. That is so much more important than stamping. Really, it is!

Catch ya later,

Sharon

It's Still Wednesday

I know, it's a little late in the day, (actually night) but it is still Wednesday. I wanted to get this card posted yet today. I'll be seeing some ladies soon that requested some quick card ideas for Christmas. So that means I have to MAKE some quick card ideas for Christmas. Novel idea, right? And since I'm making new cards, they might as well be posted here. Right? Yup, that's what I thought too. This means there should (hopefully) be more cards posted this week. Keep checking back.

For this card with the wisemen, I always think Rich Regals. They brought expensive gifts, so I think of rich, opulent colors to portray them. Subsequently, the card color is all shades of purple with a rhinestone added for the star.

All materials are SU!
Stamps: Season of Simple Grace
Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, and Whisper White
Ink: Elegant Eggplant
Accessories: Key Tag Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Square Rhinestone Brads-Ice, White Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals.

I gave this card much thought concerning sponging edges or not. I decided that the crisp, clean lines worked better for the elegant look I wanted for this card. What do you think? To sponge or not to sponge. That is the question!

Enjoy the card and feel free to case if this suits your fancy. Actually this card stamped up so fast, maybe I need to try another one or two with this set. This is probably what I'll be dreaming about tonight. Thanks for looking...
Hugs,
Sharon

Election Day Blues - NOT

I'd been hearing about how long the lines would be at the voting booths, so there was a little dread in my heart as I took off for City Hall today. Much to my surprise, I only had to wait about 5 seconds! Yes, you heard me right - 5 seconds!! The kind ladies working there said it had just slowed down shortly before I arrived, There must be something to it about living right. Don't cha think??

Anyway, I'm just soooo excited to show you what I've been working on the last two days! I saw a Halloween fold-out on someone's blog about 2 weeks ago and it's been percolating in my brain. Sorry, I don't know where I saw the original. It was one of those days where I was clicking from one place to another without paying too much attention to where I actually landed. I tried to find it again yesterday when I was working on this to get some input, but couldn't find it. So I guess this is mine. Take a look and tell me what you think.... (Someone was kind enough to let me know that it might have been Patty Bennett's blog here: http://pattystamps.typepad.com/ This is definitely a wonderful blog and what awesome ideas Patty has! But I was looking at a Halloween idea. Anyone find that one??)

It just amazes me that you can have this all folded up into this small packet, but when untied you have a wonderful accent for a mantel or shelf. And I'm so tickled that I did this without alot of input and someone else's creativeness. All materials and stamps are by Stampin' Up! of course.
Stamps: Autumn Harvest, Define Your Life, and Holidays & Wishes
Paper: Sage Shadow, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla Cardstocks, and Autumn Vine DSP (love that stuff!)
Ink: Basic Brown, Really Rust, More Mustard, Sage Shadow, and Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Big Shot Serif Essentials Dies, Earth Elements Brads and Buttons, More mustard, Chocolate Chip, and Sage Shadow Grosgrain Ribbons, and Creamy Caramel Gingham Ribbon, AquaPainter, Scallop Circle, Small, Large and Wide Oval Punches.


Whew, I sure had a big mess on my worktable when I was finished. Seems like I had just about everything I owned out trying to decide what I needed to use. This was definitely fun and I'm looking forward to making another in the near future.
Thanks for checkin' in...
Sharon