Hey, what's going on?

Finally I could get back on this site. I don't know what was going on with either the site or my computer, but I was unable to log on the last couple days! What a bummer! And to make matters worse, I've had a stamping block lately. Nothing has been coming together the way I see it in my mind. Then there was the dentist appointment today. :( Plus it snowed overnight! Just what else is going to happen? Help!! My world is out of whack!

Ok, I need to calm down now. It must be time for Pepsi and chocolate. Ahhhh, that's a little better now.... Nice and easy....

I wanted to share two versions of a card today and get your opinion. I was in an Occasions Mini Swap and this is the set I chose to use. The images and coloring is identical (if that's even possible when something is hand made!), but one has an extra layer of cardstock. That's the only difference between the two. One is a much more softer look and the other has a punch of Ruby Red from the cardstock layer. I'm trying to figure out which one I prefer - the softer or the bolder. Please let me know which you prefer.

All images are by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Scene is a Garden and Really Retro

Paper: Kraft, Baja Blue, Ruby Red (on one!), Chocolate Chip, and Whisper White

Ink: Basic Brown, Close to Cocoa, Ruby Red, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Blue

Accessories: Aqua Painter, Word Window Punch, Sponge quarter, Silver Mini Brad, Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain, Dimensionals, and Distressing Tool.

I really enjoyed coloring the images. It's my favorite way to color. I just couldn't decide on the layering. The softer colors remind me more of spring. Let me know your opinion. It's always helpful to have some feedback when you're in a quandary.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy stamping,

Sharon

Sunshine and Easter Bunnies

Wow, another gorgeous day out there! Good heavens, what am I doing inside and down in the dungeon besides? I must need my head examined! On a day like this, you just need to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. Of course, you better bundle up, baby, because it's still pretty cold out there. After posting my Easter cards for today, I'm heading out to run some errands and get me some sunshine.

This first card is using the new Eight Great Greetings set from the Occasions Mini Catalog. Ordering doesn't start until April 1st, except for the 3 Easter sets and the Egg Hunt wheel. So this darling bunny can be yours now if you'd like to place your order.
All stamps and materials by Stampin' Up!
Stamps: Eight Great Greetings
Paper: Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Pretty In Pink, and Whisper White
Ink: Jet Black Stazon, Creamy Caramel, Bashful Blue, and assorted Soft Subtle colors for the eggs
Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, Aqua Painter, Mat Pack, White Gel Pen, Dimensionals, and Lt Blue Gingham Ribbon (retired)
Did you notice the cute punched corners on the Pretty in Pink layer? That's made with the Eyelet Border Punch. How cool is that? I had seen a card using similar colors and layout as this one http://stampupwithwendy.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/easter-wishes/made by Wendy Janson and really liked how crisp and clean this looked. Hope you enjoy this version.

This card also used the same bunny image from the Eight Great Greetings set. Can you tell that I think this is a very versatile and basic set to have on hand? Yes, I like it lots!! And I used the Eyelet Border Punch again. That's my new favorite accessory to play with!
All stamps and materials by Stampin' Up!
Stamps: Eight Great Greetings
Paper: Certainly Celery, Whisper White cardstock, and Delicate Dots DSP
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories, Colored pencils, Eyelet Border Punch, Celery Twill Ribbon (SAB)


You just can't get too much easier when it comes to card-making than this one. I used this for a make and take for my workshop last Friday night. There was a little 5 year old girl there that followed all the instructions to a 'T' and her card turned out just great. I figure if Alyssa can do this, then anybody can. Especially if you have several to make. You can whip them out in no time. Don't be like me though - I get them made and forget to mail them. Brighten someone's day.
Get them addressed and in the mail right away! Y'hear?

Have a sweet, sunshiny day! Get out and dust off those spring and Easter stamps, and start stamping!
Sharon

A Lovely Sunday To You

Yes, it is lovely out there. Still a might bit chilly for me, but with the sun shining I can tolerate the cold better. Even though it doesn't feel like spring yet, it looks like it. The maple tree has had a zillion flowers on it. They don't last long, but they make a big mess on the driveway. Oh well. You have to take the good with the bad. My daffodils and narcissus are up about 3" so far, so that's a good thing. I'll take any step in the right direction towards spring and warm weather.
The cards I'm sharing with you today have a spring feel to them. The first one is using one of the Sale-a-bration sets called Polka Dot Punches. There's only another week to go where you can get this set for FREE! Don'cha just love those freebies?! If you still want to pick this set up, you can contact me and I'll put in an order for you, or you can order directly from my website. Be sure you go and check out the link on the side.
All stamps and materials by SU! of course.
Stamps: Polka Dot Punches, Sweet Little Sentiments
CS: So Saffron, Bashful Blue, and Whisper White
Ink: So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, and Rose Red.
Accessories: Celery Twill Ribbon (SAB), 3/4" Circle Punch, and Dimensionals
This is just a quick, pretty card to send a note out to cheer someone up. Wouldn't you enjoy getting this in the mail instead of those dreadful bills?

This next card is really my style. I love pastels and pinks are a favorite. This has a splash of color with the layer of Raspberry Tart DSP that really gets your attention. The rest is sweet and demure, so it's a fun mix.
All stamps and materials by SU!
Stamps: Wonderful Watercolors and Sweet Little Sentiments again (can you tell I love this set?)
CS: Pink Pirrouette, Regal Rose, Rose Red, and Whisper White and Raspberry Tart DSP
Ink: Rose Red pad, and Regal Rose and Always Artichoke Markers
Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Pretty in Pink 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, and Dimensionals.
Hope you enjoyed these ideas. Be sure to drop me a note and let me know what you think.
Happy stampin',
Sharon

Happy St Patty's Day

Are you wearing green and dancin' an Irish jig today? I guess I don't have enough Irish in me - actually not a drop at all! But for today, we're all Irish. The two projects I have for you today have some green on them. I didn't say a lot of green, just some. So I guess they're about as Irish as I am.

This is a card that was made awhile back. It uses the Wonderful Watercolors set that I just love working with. The images are so delicate and I get to pretend I really know how to watercolor!!
All images and materials are SU!
Stamps: Wonderful Watercolor and Fundamental Phrases
CS: Summer Sun, Garden Green, Chocolate Chip and Naturals White
Ink: Basic Brown and Garden Green
Accessories: Watercolr Wonder Crayons, Aqua Painter, Lace Edge Punch, Chocolate Taffeta Ribbon, Silver Mini Brads, and Sponge quarter

The card has an added strip of Garden Green attached to the inside edge of the card that really shows off the lacy look of the punched edge. And of course, the sponging really finishes the look of the card.

This next card is another one from the Regional last Saturday. It uses the Soft Summer set and an Embosslit and corduroy button. Aren't they a nice finishing touch for the card? Very cool!

Again all images and materials are by SU!

Stamps: Soft Summer

CS: Baja Breeze Textured CS, Kiwi Kiss, and Tangerine Tango Designer Patterns Paper

Ink: Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Single Flower Embosslits, Chocolate Chip Corduroy Button, Sanding Block, Paper Snips
The really fun part of making this was using the sanding block to sand over the raised edges of the embossed flower thereby exposing the white core of the cardstock. It was just like magic seeing it appear right before my eyes. I definitely have to do this technique again. Oh, it's so much fun doing something you've never done before! Yes, I know - it takes so very little to impress me! What can I say? I just guess I'm easy - at least when it comes to stamping, that is! he he he
Well, that's it for today. Back to the drawing board (uh, that would be stamping table for me). It's time to get cracking for the downline meeting this Thursday. I'm looking forward to seeing my friends. If you've ever thought about being a demonstrator, now would be a great time to do it. Just check out my website for information on how you do it and come join the fun!

Talk to you all soon.
Happy stamping,
Sharon

Regional Offerings

What a great time Beth and I had in London, Ont at the Regional Seminar. (Thanks for going with me, Beth!!) It was a shame that Shelli wasn't there, but it was fun and informative anyway. I did get some lovely swaps from the ladies there and will be showing them at my downline meeting this Thursday. It was funny being in Canada, really surrounded by Canadians, but at our table of 6, four of us were from Michigan. Seems like SU! needs to bring a regional here again. Wouldn't that be great?

One of the sets we used for our make & takes was Soft Summer from the new Occasions Mini that you can order from in April (except for the Easter sets which you can order NOW!). We used the set in a couple of different ways to watercolor. This was right up my alley for sure, but I must confess something. Every time I try to stamp under a time crunch, I always make mistakes. It's so frustrating. True to form, I messed up my 2nd project, so I packed it away and took pictures instead. So much less stressful for me! Does anybody else have this problem?? Or am I the only demo around that can demo at a workshop, but can't stamp at convention, etc?

Anyway, after church on Sunday, I spent the afternoon stamping the projects I didn't make on Saturday. Isn't this one gorgeous? We colored directly on the solid image stamp with the

markers, huffed, and stamped. Then I used the Aqua Painter to soften the images a little. I think it's just yummy! Watercolor paper is so versatile and wonderful to work with - adding more colors or taking heavier colors off. It's definitely fun!

This really makes me want to do more with my markers again. I don't get them out too often, but maybe that'll change now that I've tried this.

This next card is also made with the Soft Summer set. You get a totally different look with different stamps and colors. This is also the card that I messed up. I had to change the DSP on this from a striped Urban Oasis piece to the Khaki Patterns that was a Hostess set awhile back. It's a little darker than the original, but it still gives the same feel.

On this card, we stamped the outline image, then colored directly on the solid image with the Watercolor Wonder Crayons and gave it a spritz with water. Really liked the look of this. The set really utilizes the Stamp-a-ma-jig. It's such a

useful tool, I just don't see why people complain when I use it during classes. There's no way you could really line these stamps up nicely without it.

Do you like the lacy look on the DSP? I thought that was a great accent on this card and really dressed it up.

Hope you enjoy these offerings. I'll be back with more. Have fun stamping!

Sharon

What a Week!!

You know how exhausted you feel after you've been really down and out sick? That's how we've both been feeling here. My poor hubby is still fighting the queasies and running a temp at different times of the day, and I'm still hacking away from the bronchitis and sore from pleurisy. What a pair of sorry souls we are. The doc keeps saying that we really will get over all this, but it sure seems to be taking forever.

Even with feeling yucky, there is still stamping to be done. Classes were this week, I have a workshop tomorrow, and I got to squeeze in a few hours stamping with Janine. That's always fun. Oh yes, food was also involved in that visit. And then Beth and I are trekking over to Canada for a Regional Seminar really early (!) on Saturday. I can't wait to go and get recharged! I didn't figure there would be time for many swaps, but I did manage a couple dozen so far. This is what I'll be sharing in London. Hope the ladies there like my card.

All images and materials by SU!

Stamps: Sweet Stems and Fifth Avenue Floral

CS: Cameo Coral, Orchid Oppulence, Whisper White

Ink: Basic Gray, Orchid Oppulence

Access: 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, White Taffeta Ribbon, Crafters Tool Kit, and Dimensionals

Reading the accessory list made me think I might have gone overboard on the punches. Hmmm, four different punches on one card? Naw, you can never use too many punches, can you???

Well, I need to get back to planning the workshop for Terri and her friends. It will be great seeing them again. It's been quite awhile so we need to have fun!! Let's paaartaay!

Happy stamping,

Sharon

Upcoming Special Class

Hi all! Hope you're enjoying this warm, drippy Saturday. Don't know what it's like where you live, but here it feels like spring is in the air. And it seems to be dripping from the clouds at the moment. I can't complain too much 'cuz at least the temps are in the 50's. Yah! It's coming! I can feel it! And to celebrate that fact, I'll be holding a special class for you ladies out there that can come.

You're invited to come to my 'Crazy for Cupcakes' class. Isn't this just the cutest set you've ever seen? During class you'll make 4 coordinated cards all with a birthday theme and the darling cupcake pouch to store them. This would make a great gift for someone, or you can keep it all for yourself and store your cards in it.

Crazy for Cupcakes Class

when: Sunday March 22

time: 1:30 - 4:30 pm

cost: $25.00

If you pre-order the Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set for $23.95 plus shipping and tax, you will receive $5.00 off your class price so you'll be able to make many more of these cute cards.

Please let me know if you're interested. Either call me at 313-563-1537 or email me at:

scstamper@comcast.net

I'd love to have you join us at the class!

Back to stamping!

Sharon

Hey, I'm Back!

Boy, it's good to be back. I can't believe it's been so long since the last post. It has been really crazy though. The doctor told me I have pleurisy and that's why my ribs are hurting so bad. It won't clear up til I quit coughing. Riiiight. And then my hubby has been sick with the stomach flu the last couple of days, and it's hit him really hard. He so seldom gets sick, it's really something when he's totally down and out. But I think he's on the mend. He hasn't actually gotten sick (nice way of putting it :o) !) all day today, so I think there's hope for him yet.

This card I'm sharing with you today is from last Saturday. I spent the day with over 60 scrappers at an all-day crop at Guardian School. I was scheduled to do a make & take for the ladies to show them an idea for a quick card that you could expand on and use for a scrap page. I had just gotten my new Embosslits from SU! on Thursday, so of course we must use them! Isn't that how it works? I was tickled at how quick I could make cards with these two dies, and how elegant they looked. I was told that the ladies liked them too. So, on with the directions and 'ingredients' so you can make them too. :o)

All materials and stamps are by SU!
Stamps: Good Friend
CS: Barely Banana, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Ink: Summer Sun, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, VersaMark, and Regal Rose Marker
Accessories: SU! BigShot, Little Leaves Sizzlit Die, Flower Burst Embosslit Die, Sponge Daubers, Snail Adhesive, and Dimensionals

I don't know if you can see the star-burst from the Good Friend set that was stamped on the background with the VersaMark Pad to give it more texture. And did you notice how nicely the detail of the embosslit shows up with just a smidge of color burnished on it? Easy, but oh so cool! Since Saturday, I've made about a dozen of these in different colors and for different occassions. Some in lavender made up beautifully into sympathy cards. Yes, I'm still having a run on those this year. I hope it quits, 'cuz I don't want to lose anymore friends!

Anyway, that's about it for today. Back to the laundry and getting ready for my workshop tomorrow night. I'm sure glad my hubby is feeling better, because the ladies are coming here for the workshop. Wouldn't it be horrible if he was still rolfing??? On that happy note, I'm outta here.
Happy stamping and stay well,
Sharon