Another sketch challenge

Boy, I'm on a roll today! After missing out on doing the sketch challenges for several weeks, I do two in one day. Sorry - I just needed my fix!! One of the blogs that has interesting sketch challenges is Pals Paper Arts. You can find them here. This week the challenge is KISS (Keep It Simple, Sweetie) with lots of white space, few layers, simple design, and quick to design. The card I have to share with you certainly fits all those prerequisites, and I think it's lovely also. Hope you enjoy this one:

ta-da! This is it!

Stamps: Love & Joy (retired)

Cardstock: Garden Green, Real Red, Whisper White

Ink: Garden Green

Accessories: Big Shot with Petals-A-Plenty Embossing Folder, 3/4" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Fire Round Rhinestone Brads, Mistletoe Ribbon (Holiday Mini Catalog), and Dimensionals

What do you think? I love the clean lines and simplicity of this card! I'm just so happy with the way it turned out! It's simple, but still very pretty as far as I'm concerned. Shoot, I think I just hurt my arm patting myself on the back!!!

Ok, now I've really got to get back to work and stop playing with the sketches. It really does help the creativity juices to flow when you've got a theme or sketch as a basis for your card. Give it a try sometime. But be careful - it's kind of addicting! LOL

Have a great evening!

Sharon

True Friend 411 Sketch

I've been busy making samples and cutting cardstock for the projects the From Our Hearts Stamping Ladies will be making tomorrow night. It's so exciting thinking of our soldiers getting these cards and sending them on home to their families! It's such a rush to be able to do something for others and not expect anything back from it!!! Anyway, it's been interesting getting away from the Christmas cards and working on Valentine's Day and other general cards. I finally caught up with the Stamping 411 blog sketch here, and thought I'd do one quick. It's a lovely sketch, but I was interrupted too many times to really give it my best. So I guess this is just second best instead.

Here's my card, minus the piercing I was planning on doing. When I got off the phone, I just taped it all together. Unfortunately I wasn't using my Snail Adhesive as usual which is easy enough to pop off if you don't like something. When I saw my mistake, it was either rip (and I mean that literally!) off the layers and start over, or just leave it as is. You can see I just left it for today.

Stamps: True Friend and On Your Birthday

Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Rose Red, Always Artichoke, and Whisper White cardstock with Georgia Peach Designer Series Paper (retired)

Ink: Rose Red pad, and Certainly Celery and Rose Red markers, and Whisper White Craft Pad

Accessories: Soft Subtle Mini Brads, White Taffeta Ribbon, Sponge Dauber, and Scallop Circle Punch

That's about it for today. It's back to card planning for tomorrow night. I'm hoping the ladies can make 100 cards this time. That's the goal anyway. We'll see how it goes, and give you an update later.

Happy stamping,

Sharon

Ho Ho Ho Banner

I've been at it for the last week working on a new banner for Christmas. The one I made last year looks a bit faded and dated. So I've been working on an idea for a Scalloped Square Banner hanging straight down. The more I played around with the components though, the more it changed! The banner now hangs across the entertainment unit in the livingroom, instead of hanging down by the back door. Oh well, that's the way projects work out sometimes, isn't it? You've got this idea, but it morphs into something quite different than it started out. But that's what the creative process is all about! LOL Sorry I haven't taken a picture of it hanging up for you. The lighting just wasn't cooperating tonight. Maybe tomorrow I'll give it another try.

Stamps: ummmm, none

Cardstock: Old Olive, Whisper White, Real Red, and Bashful Blue with Holiday Lounge Designer Series Paper

Ink: ummmm, none

Accessories: Big Shot with Scalloped Square Clear Die, Serif Essentials Alphabet Dies, Snowflake Punch (retired), Sizzix Scalloped Frame with Holly (non-SU!), On Board Book Basics Chipboard, Clear Rhinestone Brads, 1/2" Real Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, and Silver Elastic Cord (Holiday Mini Catalog)

This picture was actually taken along with another one with the white Mistletoe Ribbon Originals because I couldn't make up my mind which one I liked better. Thought I'd be able to tell better with two pictures side-by-side. Then I had to send the pictures to my hubby's computer because the colors are a bit off on mine. Actually the reds go together quite nicely in real life. But I'm not so sure on this picture. Take my word for it, they really, really do go together nicely! Honest!

Happy stamping and decorating,

Sharon

Post Thanksgiving

I don't know about you, but yesterday we just sort of 'vegged out' around here. Hubby was grazing the left-overs and I was right in there helping him! lol There's just something so tasty about those lovely turkey left-overs! In fact, it's the best reason for cooking that huge turkey dinner!

So today I'll share with you a couple of cards that I played around making yesterday. Yes, I really did do something - and it wasn't shopping! I stay away from the stores the day after Thankgiving like it's the plague!! The unruly, pushy crowds make me very uncomfortable. I guess I don't need the items on sale that desperately!! So instead, I started my cookie and candy making for Christmas and then I stamped trees! These are two very different styles of trees, but they're both Christmas cards. What do you think?

This first one is made with that old standby - Lovely As A Tree and surprisingly doesn't even use the evergreen! This set has been used for so many different occasions and holidays! A truly versatile stamp set that should be in everyone's stamp stash.

Stamps: Lovely As A Tree and Four the Holidays

Cardstock: Soft Suede, Real Red, Old Olive, and Very Vanilla

Ink: Soft Suede

Accessories: White Gel Pen (for snowflakes and coloring snow in under each tree), 1/4" Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, and Sleigh Bells Ribbon (from the Holiday Mini Catalog)

Very simple card, but it looks nice and wintry - just right for the holiday season!

This second card is much more modern and funky looking. Even the colors are updated!

Stamps: Patterned Pines

Cardstock: Rose Red, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, and Whisper White

Ink: Rose Red

Accessories: Frost White Shimmer Paint, Word Window Punch, Fire Round Rhinestone Brads, Sponge quarter, and Dimensionals

I sponged the Shimmer Paint directly onto the little corner stamp and it shows up nicely on the Rose Red cardstock. I hadn't really cleaned the snowflake stamp from using it on the background, but sponged Shimmer Paint on that too. It gives a pretty pinkish shimmer to the snowflake on the top layer. hmmmm.... It was so pretty, I just might have to work on using it on another card idea!

Well that's it for today. After raking a few leaves this afternoon, I planned several projects my friends and I will make for the soldiers on Tuesday. It's getting time to get these cards in the mail for the "From Our Hearts" group. I hope there'll be a good turn-out with lots of ladies stamping their little hearts out! I'm looking forward to this as we always have a great time together!

Happy stamping, and don't eat too many of the left-overs. Save some for tomorrow...

Sharon

Wandering Santa

It's getting closer and closer to Christmas. I can tell because all the blogs are showing Christmas ideas. So I guess I will too! (as if I haven't been doing that for weeks on end already!) So whatever happened to Thanksgiving? Oh yes, I've got the turkey thawing in the fridge and the groceries all purchased and ready to cook. But I haven't made a Thanksgiving card in almost 2 weeks! So to amend that oversight, we'll take a moment to give thanks for all the blessings we've been given throughout the past year and also for years past. We live in such a bountiful country and God has blessed us in so many, many ways. That's not to say that everything has always been wonderful and we've sailed through life with no hardships. No, there have been many crisis that we'd had to learn to deal with and live through. But through all the good and not-so-good times, God has been there with us and showered us with His love and peace. Now that's a real blessing!!

Now on to today's card creation! I've had this idea floating around for awhile about Santa silhouetted against the moon. I finally got around to making the card. Now that it's all put together, I'm not sure it's on the right color card base. I didn't want to do the normal navy look for night. I wanted something a bit more light-hearted looking. Does it work?

Stamps: Wandering Words, Lovely As A Tree, and Serene Snowflakes

Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Whisper White

Ink: Stazon Jet Black, So Saffron, Brocade Blue, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery Classic Pads, and Craft White Pad

Accessories: Big Shot with Top Note Die, Sponge Quarters, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, White Gel Pen, and Bashful Blue Striped

Ribbon.

This seems to be one of those cards that I like better in person than on the computer. It glitters so prettily when holding it, and that just doesn't compute very well. Such is life.

Just wanted to mention I've been spending some time making stamped Christmas gifts. And since my sister reads this, I can't show them yet! he he Oh, this is fun - I can tease you online now!!!

Have a great day today preparing for the great Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow! Don't eat too much turkey!! Save some for leftover turkey sandwiches - yummy!

Sharon

Just Can't Decide

Which card do you prefer? I've been asking my hubby, kids, anybody that walks through the door which card they prefer. But it seems everybody has a different opinion, and for different reasons too!! So I guess I have to leave it up to you to help me out. I was going to make up several of this card for Christmas mailing, but I can't decide which I like better. Or whether I should scrap the idea altogether? Then I was on the Control Freaks Tour yesterday and saw a card so very similar to my idea. It was really eerie seeing a similar card on someone else's blog. Maybe I like her idea even better, hmmmmm. Check out the card on Dawn Olchefske's blog (I tried to add a link here but it wouldn't let me!) and tell me what you think.

This was the third incarnation of the first try! My hubby said it needed more red and to try drawing a line of red on the white cardstock layer. That was really awful, so I flipped the layer over and added the brads instead. Maybe....

Since I had cut enough cardstock for two cards, I tweaked a bit on the other one and came up with this........

This doesn't seem quite so 'busy' to me, but he still liked the other one better. I guess he really likes the red accents. Who knows?

Stamps: A Cardinal Christmas

Cardstock: Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Whisper White

Ink: Always Artichoke, Real Red

Accessories: Modern Label Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, 1/4" Circle Punch, Mistletoe Ribbon, 2-Way Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, (BoldBrights Mini Brads (on 1st sample), andd Dimensionals

Okay, the voting is now open for you! Give me your two cents worth and make your comments known! Now is the time for all good stampers to step up to the voting (comment) box and be heard! Actually I hope you will give me your feedback on this. For some reason, I really cannot decide! So help me out here, please!

Sharon

Top Note & Punches...

What an awesome combination together! The Top Note by itself is just incredible to work with; but when you add some punches to the equation, you get some really fun and creative projects!!

I've seen these ideas on several different blogs while meandering through the ideas. Thought they would be both great projects for my Punchy Class earlier this week. And Connie, I'm posting these especially for you since you can't come to the meetings! I don't want you missing out on these ideas. (The directions for you will be in the mail!) Now on to the characters...

The first one is Chilly Willy - remember the cartoon character? Oh, maybe you're not as ancient as I am so you really don't remember. I think he is just too cute for words. Wouldn't this be a great card to send to the kids on your Christmas list??

Stamps: Season of Joy

Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Basic Black, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, and Brilliant Blue

Ink: Brilliant Blue

Accessories: Big Shot with Top Note Die, Large Oval Punch, Curly Label Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, and 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Real Red Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, and White Gel Pen

He's just sooooo cute and quick to make. I can't wait til I have grandkids to send cute little cards like this to!!

Now this little Indian brave is just the right size to hold a little chocolate treat or two. The Medium Cello Bags fit inside perfectly and hold a nice treat. This brave was made for Barb to sweeten her day!

Stamps: Absolutely NONE, oh my!

Cardstock: Creamy Caramel, Always Artichoke, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust, Ruby Red, Basic Black, and Whisper White

Ink: Close to Cocoa for sponging, and Chocolate Chip marker for feather detail

Accessories: Big Shot with Top Note Die and Perfect Details Embossing Folder, Large Oval Punch, 1" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Round Tab Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, White Gel Pen, Sponge quarter, Sticky Strip, and Dimensionals

Now wouldn't this be an adorable gift to bring the hostess serving you Thanksgiving dinner? Who could resist those big eyes? And now that I've made one of these treat boxes, I can see making more in the future. They're quick and easy (unless you need to make 50 of them or so!), and lots of fun. My favorite part about these is that each face looks a little different depending on placement of eyes, eyelids, and the nose. I didn't even give him a mouth because he's my 'silent brave', but you could if you like. It's as simple as drawing it on with a marker.

Well, I hope you've enjoyed these punch creations. There will be more when I get around to it. Still looking at possibilities for more creatures. Have a great Saturday and make sure you stamp at least a little bit!

Sharon

Ornament Punch Stencil

Yes, I do love my ornament punch! And use it just as often as I can!! I sure hope this punch makes it from the Holiday Mini Catalog into next year's full catalog. Whatever would I do without it? Why, I just can't imagine.

When poking around the excess 'stuff' on my table, there was the 'left-over' part after punching a bunch of ornaments. Hmmm... Now this needs to be good for something. You just can't throw it away! OMG, not that dirty 'T' word!!! I just can't handle that! So, why don't we incorporate it into a design? Couldn't figure out how to actually put it on a card, so I did the next best thing - used it for a stencil. Just love the sponged shape, very soft and kind of subtle.


Stamps: Holiday Best
Cardstock: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand, Whisper White, with Merry Moments Designer Series Paper
Ink: Old Olive pad, Real Red and Always Artichoke Markers
Accessories: Ornament Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Sponge Dauber, Dimensionals, and Gold Zig Painty (retired)


Well that's it for today. I've got my lovely downline ladies coming tonight for our meeting. I'll have to show you the Make & Takes we do on tomorrow's post. Until then, keep stamping and smiling! Remember, we're having fun!!!!
Sharon

Two for One

I've spent a little more time attacking my stash of unfinished class projects from waaaayyy back! I came across 6 sets of cut cardstock and knew right away what I wanted to do with them. The colors were muted and the size looked like it would work with the Holy Triptych set. Oh, they turned out so lovely! And I'm soooo happy with them! But I only made 5 of them. I kept back one of the sets to use another stamp set. You'll have to keep reading to see what I did. I think it's worth the time 'cuz it's purty!!

Here's the first card. In case you can't tell from the picture, the layer under the focal image is True Thyme. Remember that color? I just loved it with Brocade Blue, and here's proof that it was a color combo I enjoyed putting together!

Stamps: Holy Triptych, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Brocade Blue, True Thyme, and Confetti White

Ink: Stazon Jet Black, True Thyme, Chocolate Chip, Brocade Blue, Blush Blossom, and So Saffron

Accessories: AquaPainter, Big Shot with Perfect Details Texturz Plate, Crop-a-dile, White Eyelets, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, and Dimensionals

I hope you can see how great the Shimmer Paint works on this card! It's just a very soft shimmer to enhance, not knock your socks off! This is the first time I actually painted with the Shimmer Paint. So far I've sponged it on the cardstock, sponged it on the stamp, spritzed it on the cardstock in a mixture of rubbing alcohol and Shimmer Paint, and now painted it directly on the card. It's amazing just what can be accomplished with that little bottle of paint!!!! It's quickly turning out to be my new favorite accessory! If you haven't used this yet, you don't know what you're missing, and you need to get some right away!

Now on to the last card I made. When I first saw our catalog, one of the first sets I wanted was Herb Expressions, but there seemed to be other things that I just had to order first - like new In Colors, holiday sets for class use and demoing, etc. etc. Well, I finally got the set. Yeah! And it's everything I thought it would be and more! I just love the images and the sentiments are so sweet I could just yum 'em up! Anyway, here's the card using the same basic materials with just a few tweaks.

There's a little image stamping on the background with Sahara Sand - very subtle. I changed the eyelets to a white taffeta ribbon, and sponged around the image layer with Brocade Blue ink. Truthfully, I don't know what color Rosemary flowers are, but here they're blue. I might need to google that and find out for the next time I use this set. And I definitely need to make more time to play with the rest of the images in this set. The artwork on this set is really gorgeous, and I'm sure I'll be reaching for this set often in the future!

Oh my goodness, I just realized I didn't use any DSP on these cards! How could that happen? Oh, I feel withdrawal symptoms coming on.... It's calling out to me... Got to have my Designer Paper fix for the day.........

Hope you enjoy your day!

Sharon

Christmas Potpourri

No, it doesn't stink! It's a potpourri of cards for Christmas! Today I spent some time cleaning up some partial pieces and odds & ends that have been sitting around cluttering up my table getting in the way. I promised myself I'd get some of this stuff finished or throw it out. Yikes, did I really just say that???? I hope my hubby didn't hear me say that out loud. He'd be getting the garbage bags ready to catch all the stuff I'd have to throw out. Don't worry, it's not gonna happen today!

Ok, back to the cards. Each of these started out as something else that didn't quite make it. They've now been resurrected and finished to be added to the 'ready to mail' box. I can't believe just how many 'one of a kind' cards I'll be sending out this Christmas! There's no way I'll ever remember what I sent out this year when I start planning for next year. Oh well, that's too far in the future to worry about! Who cares anyway??

Bella Bleu Christmas -

Stamps: Sweet Season and Four the Holidays

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Not Quite Navy and Bella Bleu Designer Series Paper

Ink: Not Quite Navy Classic and White Craft

Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Dimensionals, and a blue dew drop (non SU!)

Bashful Trees -

Stamps: Patterned Trees (Hostess Level 1)

Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, and Shimmer White

Ink: Bashful Blue and Rich Razzleberry

Accesssories: Big Shot with Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder, Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon, Wheel and Handle, Snowflake Punch (retired), Dimensionals, and stick-on rhinestone (non SU!)

Chocolate Dasher -

Stamps: Dasher and Teeny Tiny Wishes

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Whisper White and Merry Moments Designer Series Paper

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Big Shot with Embossing Folder (non SU! - it was a gift! I had to use it, honest!!), Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Bold Bright Buttons (retired), and Dimensionals

Last one!

Stamps: Dasher and Sweet Season

Cardstock: Real Red, Garden Green, and Whisper White

Ink: Real Red pad, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, and Garden Green markers

Accessories: Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Wide Oval Punch, and Dimensionals

Ok, that's as far as I was able to get. There were other things that I had to get done too! I know, what could possibly be more important than finishing up some stamping??? For some reason, hubby thinks making meals just might be more important. And since I really, really like to eat too, I can't really argue with him about that.

Time to get back in gear here. Talk to you later...

Sharon

It Takes Two, Baby!

At least it took two people to get the layout just right on this card anyway! I was really struggling with this. I wanted something really smashing for the Pals Paper Arts challenge this week. The theme is Christmas Cheer - that shouldn't be all that hard, now should it?? I mean, that's what we've all been working on defining for the last several weeks, isn't it? The idea was there in my head. I knew what colors I wanted to use. The main components were all embossed, stamped, punched, sponged, and whatever else was needed. Then.... it just didn't work out!!!! Waaaah My hubby looked at it and gave me his two cents worth (actually his ideas were worth way more than that!) Ok. Peel off some of the layers. Change this layer size..... hmmm, maybe change the color too! Maybe it needs another layer too while I'm at it. Try it again. Nope, not yet. Take it all apart again and turn it upright. Hey, I think we've finally got it! And after all that, none of the pictures really showed the Brushed Gold cardstock layer or the gorgeousness of the Shimmer Paint! Nuts... Ok, now for the really tough test.... What do you think???

Stamps: Short and Sweet

Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Brushed Gold, Real Red, and Very Vanilla

Ink: Always Artichoke

Accessories: Big Shot with both Finial Press and Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folders, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, Sponge Dauber, Ornament Punch, Small Oval Punch, Sleigh Bells Ribbon, Gold Cording, Mini Glue Dots, and Dimensionals

I was disappointed that I couldn't get the rich look of the Brushed Gold cardstock layer to show up on the pictures. Very nice, but subtle.

Actually there is a little sponging around the Mellow Moss layer with the Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint that doesn't show up either. In real life it's just gorgeous!! I really wish I could send one to each and every one of you so you could see the shimmer! But I don't know if I'd ever get around to making quite that many cards anytime soon! So I guess you'll just have to take my word for it. Or better yet, why not make one for yourself??

Have a great evening! We'll be stamping over here!! What could possibly be better than that? Well, maybe having chocolate too!!

Toodles,

Sharon

CASEing the Master

While browsing blogs late last night again, (no wonder I'm always tired!) I checked out the Master - Jan Tink. Oooh yeah! So many great ideas. But there was one delightful little ornament card that I thought I might CASE because it had such nice clean lines to it. I did most things just like Jan, but there was a thing or two that I had to tweak for me. What is it that makes me even think I can improve on greatness?? LOL I certainly don't know. But I can assure you that it's not an improvement, just a slightly different look. Thanks for the awesome idea Jan - it's a winner!

Stamps: Delightful Decorations

Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, and Whisper White

Ink: Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip Classic Pads, Whisper White Craft Pad

Accessories: Ornament Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Bashful Blue 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Silver Cording, Sponge Dauber, and Dimensionals

Now wasn't I right about this being a delightful little card? I'm enjoying pairing Chocolate Chip cardstock and ink with so many different colors. It tends to soften the look nicely, but not be too dark and austere. The little bits of silver cording give this card just a touch of bling for an understated elegance.

Ok, it's back to the drawing board for me. I'm looking forward to having a group of ladies here tomorrow night for Joann's workshop. I've been designing the make & takes we'll be doing. I can hardly wait to show everyone!! I'm sure we'll have lots of fun stamping and sharing.

Don't forget about the Holiday Gift-Giving Guide! There's plenty of terrific gift ideas for the people on your list (maybe even something for you too!!). You can order directly online, or give me a call and I'll be happy to help you with your order. And you can always let me know what you'd like for Christmas and then send your hubby and/or kids over for me to help them order!! Either way, it's a win-win situation for YOU!

Happy stamping and shopping!

Sharon

Joy Times Two

What an unbelievably busy week this is turning out to be! This is class week for me, so that means class on Monday night, two on Tuesday night, and Wednesday at noon. Throw in a doctor's appt on Tuesday, with just a wee bit of shopping at Christopher & Banks on the way home! And then our son moved out today and back in with his sister to help conserve money with a son-in-law not getting steady work. Whew!! I'm just about wiped out for today!

But before I give up for the night, I wanted to share a class project and a second version too. First the class version - I saw this lovely card while blog hopping late one night instead of sleeping, and then couldn't find it the next morning. This is what I remember of it:

Stamps: Delightful Decorations

Cardstock: Real Red, Whisper White, and Christmas Cocoa Designer Series Paper

Ink: Real Red

Accessories: Big Shot with Texturz Plate SU! Backgrounds #1, Silver Cording, Mini Glue Dot, Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, and Dimensionals

Everyone seemed to like this card - very clean lines and pretty in just red and white. And I have a hard time keeping my fingers off the flocking!! It just feels so cool!

Now, since there were some extra cardstock and layers cut for class in case of mistakes (or leftovers from people not showing up!), I thought I'd finish them up tonight and add them to my stash of Christmas cards ready to send. So far, so good. The problem comes in that I ran out of the gorgeous flocked Christmas Cocoa Designer Series Paper for one of the layers. So it's time to improvise. Here's what I did.

I changed up the Real Red layer by using the Finial Press Embossing Folder to give it a more defined overall texture. Then I spritzed the smaller red layer with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and Frost White Shimmer Paint. Oo-la-la! Just love that look!! I'm not sure you can tell in the photo, but it adds such a pretty shimmer to frame the ornament. It needed something to define the two red layers and separate them without adding another color. What do you think?

Stamps: Delightful Decorations

Cardstock: Real Red and Whisper White

Ink: Real Red

Accessories: Big Shot with Finial Press Embossing Folder, Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Silver Cording, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Mini Glue Dot, and Dimensional

So that's about it for tonight. Seven more cards made for the Christmas stash. Hope I get enough made in time to send out! LOL Then maybe I'll get some extra sleep to make up for the crazies today!

Hope you have a restful night and have lots of energy to create tomorrow.

Sharon

Favorite Things

Yes, I know there are probably hundreds of things that I think are my favorites. But for right now, right this very minute, one of the most favorite things is my Big Shot. There's just so many things that you can do with it. And I've been trying them all lately. But right now, I've got a card to share with you that uses only two of the many aspects of it.

I just love using the Embossing Folders in my Big Shot! You can achieve such elegantly gorgeous effects by just adding embossing to a layer on your card. It's just an instant ooohhhh effect! You can have a very simple card, but the embossing raises it to another level. And it's just so easy to do. Maybe that's why I've been adding it to just about everything I make lately?! lol

The 2nd accessory for the Big Shot, is the Movers and Shapers Die and the add-on dies for it. I love how SU! has made each of the dies just a smidgeon larger than the coordinating punch. Now was that smart, or what?!!! Don't you just love that tiny sliver of Real Red showing around the Garden Green and Whisper White on this card? It's just enough to make it pop, but still be very subtle. I want to try this on everything and try using all 48 colors too! But for now, this one will do.

Stamps: Christmas Punch

Cardstock: Garden Green, Real Red, and Whisper White with Merry Moments Designer Series Paper

Ink: Garden Green

Accessories: Big Shot with Finial Press Embossing Folder and Movers & Shapers Die, Curly Label Punch, Whisper White Organza Ribbon, and Dimensionals

This card goes together so easily that I'll be making multiples of these to send out for us. I'm lucky my hubby doesn't really care which card we send out for Christmas - as long as I get it done! lol This way I don't get bored making just one style of card and can have fun while getting the cards all made!! It's a win-win situation as far as I can tell.

Have a great week. Hope to be back posting tomorrow. :-)

Sharon

Oh, I feel so inspired today!

What a wonderful feeling!! Thank you Lord!! The shot yesterday and meds the doctor now has me on must be doing the trick. I woke up early today (for me anyways!!) and couldn't wait to start creating. Yes, that's a 'capitalized creating' today! I've already made a project for my Christmas Bags and Tags class in December. Whoa, don't hold me back, 'cuz I'm on a roll.

I stopped for lunch and was browsing blogs to help in the digestion of this food I was eating. But that didn't work too well. My first stop was Gretchen Barron's blog and it was sketch time. So much for actually eating my lunch after that! Her sketch challenge for this week got me so inspired I had to stamp while the idea was hot! lol By the time I was done with the card, my work table was so covered with stamps, inks, punches, ribbons, etc. there wasn't any room left for me! And aren't you just dying to know what I came up with? I thought so! Here it is....

I'm so happy with this, that either it's really good, or my meds are playing with my mind. You decide. lol

Stamps: Dasher, Snow Swirled, and Teeny Tiny Wishes

Cardstock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand, Ruby Red cardstocks and Holiday Lounge Designer Series Paper

Ink: Ruby Red and Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Scallop Square Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Mat Pack and Piercing Tool, Fire Round Rhinestone Brads, and Dimensionals

There are so many leftover and discarded partial pieces to this card I'm going to have to do something with them! I tried sponging on this, but I really preferred the clean edges this time around. And that little sentiment layer thingy, all I can say is - it was tried in many different color and punch combos. This was the winning choice.

Let's have a little feedback on this. Should I have skipped the snowflake and rhinestone? It sort of looked too empty there and needed something. Any suggestions on what might have worked better??? Since I have so many extra pieces, I'm sure the next one will be different. So why not give me your two cents worth?!

Stamp your heart out today! I will be!!! ;-)

Sharon

The latest in the 'bug battles'

And no, I don't think I'm winning the battle at this point. Just in case you've been worrying about my state of health, I saw my doctor this afternoon for the 4th time in 6 1/2 weeks. She promptly sent me to the hospital to get a chest xray to check for pneumonia. Yup, that's the latest mutation of this bug. I'm just not sure how much more I can take of this! Arrrgghh!!!! Just what's it gonna take to land a 'knock-out punch' to this bug? I promise you that this blog is a bug-free zone. I washed my hands and sprayed disinfectant all over so there should be no lingering germs here trying to sneak out!

But other than that, life does go on. The five ladies who were available for stamping all got together last night to make the cards for "From Our Hearts". We enjoyed making the cards and really enjoyed eating the wonderful Pumpkin Roll that Shirley made. Oh, it was sooooo yummy!! And we were able to get 50 cards made in less than 2 hours. They are all packaged up with envelopes and clear envies too!!!! What a terrific accomplishment ladies! I'll start planning the projects for the next stamping night out.

Anyway, with all that's been going on, I haven't had too much time to do my own designing. When I was cleaning up the other day, I came across a leaf that was all watercolored up and just sitting there all by itself. It really needed to be joined with a card after all this time by itself. So this is exactly what I proceeded to do. I think it's much happier now, don't you agree?

I chose to use the swirled Texturz Plate and Big Shot to give the card some interest. It reminded me of leaves swirling down from the trees. Also the complete card was cut from the Scallop Square Die. Doesn't it make a really cute card?

The leaf still looked a little lonesome, so I stamped up the acorns from Autumn Splendor and colored them to coordinate. Added the greeting from Grateful Greetings set and a bit of Kraft Taffeta ribbon, and that's about it. It was really quite quick to put together. I need just a few more Thanksgiving cards, so maybe a couple more of these would do the trick.

Have a great day - whatever is left of it anyway!
(stomp, stomp) Hey, I think I got another one of those bugs!
Sharon

Making new out of scraps...

I've been really trying to get a little (stress a little) bit more organized. If it ever happens while I'm still walking this earth, I'll be totally amazed! But anyway, I need to keep trying and chipping away at my many piles of stuff. One of the things I was doing today was going through stacks of partially worked on ideas. A couple of the ideas (whatever they were originally!) were in multiples. So I thought they'd be great to add to the stash of cards for our soldiers.

There were enough pieces from this card idea to put together six cards. So they've been added to the stash of cards we'll be making on Wednesday night.

Stamps: Heard From the Heart

Cardstock: Creamy Caramel and Chocolate Chip cardstock with Autumn Vine DSP and Juntos DSP (both of these DSP's retired)

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Creamy Caramel Gingham (retired) and Neutrals Button (retired)

I always liked the look of quilting with cardstock, and this is a very easy look to accomplish. When you have little bits of DSP prints left over, cut them into 1" squares and start 'quilting'!

On this card, I had been playing around with watercoloring this gorgeous moth. For some odd reason, I had four different moths colored and hadn't done anything with them. hmmm... So I just finished them off with this look, but each was a bit different to match the moth's colors.

I'd like to give you a run down on the sets used, but they're all retired and I'm just too tired right now to try to figure them out. You'll just have to either look them up yourself, or just find something similar to work with. Your choice. Of course, you probably want me to look them up, but I'm back to coughing again and bone tired.

That's going to have to be it for tonight. Hope you like the ideas. If you really, really need to know the sets I used, leave me a comment and I'll look them up for you.

Stay healthy and happy,

Sharon

More Cards for From Our Hearts

Hey it's shaping up to be a crazy week again. Yesterday the 3 of us were outside raking and trying to find the lawn underneath the piles and piles of leaves. The scary part is that our trees are only about half-way shed of their leaves. That means we get to do it all over again. Whew, I'm tired and sore just thinking about it! Maybe I'm just too old for this?! Not!!!

This is so strange sharing Valentine cards with you and it's just barely November today. But the cards going out to our soldiers need to be ahead of the season. So, we're starting early! A group of ladies from my church are meeting on Wednesday to get started on Valentine cards. This time I've planned out the cards ahead of time and cut everything ready to stamp, assemble and send. Last time it was much more loosely organized and 7 of us only managed to make 30 cards. This time there will be fewer ladies, but I've got supplies ready to make 50 cards. So I'm really pushing the ladies to keep working this time - such a task-master!!


Since I have Designer Papers that are lovely but sadly retired, I planned cards around what I had on hand. This first one uses some of the lovely Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper. I don't have any Kiwi Kiss cardstock left, so I used Certainly Celery instead. On the computer the difference is very obvious, but in real life it works.
Stamps: Love You Much and Short & Sweet
Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Rose Red, and Whisper White, and Raspberry Tart DSP
Ink: Rose Red and Certainly Celery Markers
Accessories: Mat Pack and Piercing Tool, Soft Subtles Mini Brads and Dimensionals

This second card is lots of fun to make. Again very quick and easy, but it's still cute.

Stamps: Love You Much

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Real Red, and Whisper White, and Candy Lane Desighner Series Paper

Ink: Basic Brown, Pretty in Pink

Accessories: Aqua Painter, Mat Pack and Piercing Took, Soft Subtles Mini Brads, Bold Bright Button (retired), Pink Gingham Ribbon (retired)

I'm so glad we're getting together to make cards for our terrific soldiers who are putting their lives on the line on a daily basis. It just feels so good to be able to do something to make their lives a little bit brighter! If you're interested in learning more about this worthwhile cause, just click on the icon on the right. I'm sure you'll be impressed with all these wonderful people are doing. Come join us in stamping for the soldiers!!

Have a great week...

Sharon