Autumn 411 Sketch Challenge

Hey there! hope you're having a great day today. It's so cold and rainy today that I'm thinking fall again. I had looked at the Stamping 411 sketch on Saturday, but couldn't seem to come up with anything I liked for it. So of course it needed to get poked at again today. I just can't give up on a sketch when it doesn't work for me. For some reason I need to keep poking at it until I get something I like. And after switching stamp sets and papers, I'm happy with the results!

Hope you like it too!

Stamps: Falling Leaves

Cardstock: More Mustard, Soft Suede, Elegant Eggplant, Naturals Ivory cardstock with Autumn Traditions Designer Series Paper

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Soft Suede, More Mustard, Always Artichoke

Accessories: Big Shot with Perfect Details Texturz Plate, Eggplant Grosgrain Ribbon, Sponge quarters, and Dimensionals

In case you noticed, I'm not posting that supplies are by Stampin'Up! anymore, because that's usually all I ever use! If I use something from anyother company, that will be noted. Otherwise, just consider that everything I play with is from Stampin'Up! OK?

To make the backgroung layer a little different, I embossed the cardstock on the diagonal so it would look square on the card instead of diamond shaped and then it was sponged to help the design stand out. Also when stamping the dotted leaves, each color was off-stamped before stamping onto the card. I didn't want the leaves too heavy looking.

Hope you enjoy. I always enjoy your comments and I'm collecting them up for an up-coming drawing! Won't that be cool?! So keep commenting, and I'll keep collecting!

Sharon

A Beary Fine Sunday

Hi there! Glad you're back visiting. I had set aside my stamping time this afternoon to play with my new bears - love these little guys!! Have you seen much done using them yet? I haven't noticed anything, and these bears are just too cute to ignore. I thought I'd check out the Stamping 411 blog for a layout idea, but it didn't want to work for this stamp set. So that's on the back burner for another day, or maybe later today. I promised my bears I'd play with them today, and I just couldn't 'bear' to disappoint them! Oh, that was really bad - sorry. :-)

The first card I made was with the little girl bear and it turned into a smaller size card - 4 1/4 square. She just looked so cute that I had to give her a flower to hold and add a border of flowers to match. While watercoloring, I seemed to get a rather dark stripe in her dress, so I went with the idea and added more stripes. Do you like how it turned out? It was easy to load a little ink on the AquaPainter and make a stroke down and then another beside it without re-loading. Then load the brush again and make two strokes again, and so on. How simple is that for adding a striped look to clothing?

Stamps: Beary Best Friends and Beary Nice Wishes

Cardstock: Regal Rose, Apricot Appeal, and Whisper White

Ink: Basic Brown, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Regal Rose, Apricot Appeal

Accessories: AquaPainter, White Gel Pen, Regal Rose Wide Grosgrain and Apricot Appeal Narrow Grosgrain Ribbons, Soft Subtle Mini Brads, and Dimensionals

This little guy was stamped up next. I sure wish I had him when I was making a baby card for Brooks (grand-nephew). This would have been a perfect card for him. The colors are bright and cheery and the bear adorable. What more could you ask a new baby card to be? But instead, I added some get well wishes to him to brighten someone's day.

Stamps: Bear Best Friends and Teeny Tiny Wishes

Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Gable Green, Only Orange, and Whisper White

Ink: Basic Brown, Tempting Turquoise, Gable Green, Only Orange, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, and Going Gray

Accessories: AquaPainter, Stamp-a-ma-jig (to line up the balloons), Sponge quarter, Pumpkin Pie Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, and Dimensionals

It's hard to see on the second card, but there is turquoise ink lightly sponged on the background for the sky. Also, I used Going Gray to do some outlining on the left side of the bear and balloons. Again, rather hard to see, but it adds to the finished look of the card in person.

Well, that's it for my little bears today. Hope you enjoyed them. If you don't have them yet, I think you're gonna wanna get 'em as they would say in Boyd's Bear Country. If you do have them, time to get them out for a little play time. They've been cooped up too long!

And, if you'd like to have a Build-A-Bear Workshop with me, let's get started! It'll be fun to make your own bear cards and scrap pages to take home. The B-A-B-W Dies and Designer Papers are on their way to my house right now and are wanting to play. We can even make magnetic dress-up bears! Ready?? My house or yours??

Have a blessed Sunday!

Sharon

Daisy Wedding Card

Today I have a lovely card to share with you that makes your Big Shot shine! The longer I have it and use it, I can't imagine how I spent all those years stamping without it! To me, it has become a necessity! The dies are so very versatile and so easy to use. It seems like I can find a use for the Big Shot on almost every card I make!! Watch out! Hold me back! It's invading all my cards and ideas!!

I believe I saw the inspiration for this card on Andrea Walford's blog. I went looking for it again and couldn't find it right off, so don't quote me on that. The colors are soft and have an elegant look to them, so they would be perfect for a wedding card.

All stamps and materials by Stampin'Up!

Stamps: En Francais, and Short & Sweet

Cardstock: Baja Breeze (retired), Very Vanilla, So Saffron, and Old Olive

Ink: Baja Breeze (retired), So Saffron

Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Large Oval and Scallop Oval Punches, Big Shot with Flower Daisies #2 Die, and Swirly Decorative Strip Die, Round Ice Rhinestone Brads, Kiwi Kiss/Vanilla Satin Ribbon (retired), Sponge quarter, and Dimensionals

Isn't the large daisy gorgeous? I love the alternating layers of colors. Using the Bone Folder to curl each petal really makes the whole image just pop! And the swirly vines just adds so much. It's so pretty I almost hate to give this card away. No, no! I can't be selfish and keep all my favorites for myself. Just what am I going to do with them all?!? LOL

Hope you have a Big Shot too! Aren't they wonderful to work with and so versatile? If you'd like your own Big Shot, I'd be happy to help you get one. Plus I'll give you one of the Sizzlits Dies on the top of page 106 Free when you purchase your Big Shot through me. Contact me for details. Soon you'll be adding Big Shot touches to all your creations too!

Happy Stampin'

Sharon

ps - don't forget to leave me your comments. I'll be explaining later.....

Pals Color Challenge

Ok, I'm back for the second time today. I ran across another new sketch and challenge blog and couldn't resist doing another post to share with you. It's called Pals Paper Arts and this week they have a color challenge. The colors to work with are Brocade Blue, Crushed Curry, and Ruby Red. So I pulled the cardstock colors out and thought they'd work up easily. And maybe they would have if I had picked different stamps and layout idea. It seemed to be hard to get the right amounts of the different colors to work. I'm still not sure that I like this card, but I've run out of ways to change it up.


Stamps: Pun Fun and Priceless
Cardstock: Brocade Blue, Ruby Red, Crushed Curry, Naturals Ivory, and Very Vanilla
Ink: Stazon Jet Black, Brocade Blue, Crushed Curry, and Ruby Red Pads, and Pumpkin Pie Marker
Accessories: AquaPainter, Word Window Punch, Rich Regals Mini Brads, Dimensionals, and Bluebird Grosgrain Ribbon (retired)

Well, not totally wonderful, but maybe somebody would like this card. Guess I needed to try again. I stayed with the same main stamp set, but switched up the image and the layout of the card. What do you think about the second try?!

This is a tri-fold or gate-fold card with a center strip overlapping both sides of the front. The second picture shows the center opening much better. Now this card worked up so much better, and I'm so much happier with it!! It really is kinda cute! Wouldn't you love to get this in the mail when you're having a down day? It'd brighten you right up! And it was fun to make too. Give it a try!

Stamps: Pun Fun and Sanded
Cardstock: Naturals Ivory, Brocade Blue, Ruby Red, Crushed Curry, and Very Vanilla
Ink: Stazon Jet Black, Brocade Blue, Crushed Curry, Ruby Red, and Close to Cocoa
Accessories: AquaPainter, Flower Trio Punch, 1/4" Circle Punch, Sponge quarter, Mat Pack and Piercing Tool, Black Gingham Ribbon, and Dimensionals

I find it absolutely fascinating how you can use the same set, same colors, and come up with something totally different! I guess that's one of the things I find so wonderful about stamping! There's an infinite array of colors and ideas out there that can be constantly rearranged into something totally fun and new. How can you not love a craft that lets you create everyday and still not run out of ideas???

Whoa! I was getting just a teensy weensie bit carried away there. ;-) But I really do love being part of the greatest stamp company in the world. If you've ever thought about becoming a demonstrator, I'd love you to join my team of wonderful ladies. If you're interested, I can send you out some information right away. How about it??

Happy stampin' and God bless your weekend. Have a safe one...
Sharon

Scenic Christmas Card

I am having such a great time making Christmas cards now. There's no pressure and the deadline is so far down the road that I can really enjoy making them and coming up with different ideas. So much nicer than what I usually do - start sometime after Dec. 1st and finish and get in the mail hopefully before Christmas! How about you? What's your card-making schedule look like? Are you done already?!? If you are, don't gloat too much, ok?

This card is so my style. It's going in the pile to make multiples for mailing. It's so clean and crisp, it reminds me of crisp winter days after a fresh snowfall. With just a touch of glitter for some bling and a red brad for pop, it's just right!

All stamps and materials by Stampin'Up!

Stamps: Scenic Season, and Many Merry Messages, and God Bless 2 for the Bible verse(retired)

Cardstock: Old Olive, Real Red, and Very Vanilla

Ink: Always Artichoke

Accessories: Circle Scissors Plus, Word Window Punch, Bold Brights Mini Brads, 2-way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter

Seems like I'm really giving that Circle Scissors a workout lately. It all started with one little circle, but then I had the extra 'hole'. When I used the 'hole' on this card, I really needed another 'hole' to work with. So then I had an extra circle. So.... What a funny way to make yourself use up those scraps! Except with circles, it never really ends! I still have extra circles and 'holes' left to play with. Wonder what will be next???

Leave a comment on what you think I should do with them. You never know when your idea might just be a winner!

Winner, did you say????

Yes, stay tuned (and leave your comments!). There will be a post about an up-coming drawing soon. And you sure wouldn't want to miss out on winning a freebie, would you?

Check in tomorrow for another great idea and more info on the drawing.

Happy stampin'

Sharon

Mojo Monday with Variations

My favorite thing to do on Monday mornings is going to check out the Mojo Monday Blog to see what's the new sketch for the week. This week was no exception. I even got started on the sketch too. Then I seemed to run into problems, so I started another. Then another! Three days later and the 3rd try on this sketch, and it still doesn't have all the elements as shown on the sketch. Oh well, I'm happy with this one, so this is it for this week! I'm adding the sketch here so we can discuss the changes I made.

When you look at both pictures, you see mine doesn't have two elements on the side as shown. One of the elements was changed to the ribbon instead. Also, the 3 brads were moved from the left up onto the photo corner. With the flower-print background, it all looked way too busy to have all the elements on the left side like that. Hopefully I won't be banned from the Mojo Monday blog because of my disregard for following the sketch. :-( But I did try my best, and really like the new version. What's your verdict? (You might want to leave a message, because I have something in the works!)

Looking at this card again, I'm thinking it would be great for a cheery get well card. Think I'll make a couple extra while I've got everything out!

All stamps and materials by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Fun & Fast Notes, A Little Birthday Cheer
Cardstock: So Saffron, Real Red, Bashful Blue, and Whisper White with Cutie Pie Designer Series Paper (retired)

Ink: Stazon Jet Black, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Real Red, Certainly Celery, and Sahara Sand

Accessories: Circle Scissors Plus, Black Gingham Ribbon, Vintage Brads (black), Photo Corner Punch, Mat Pack and Piercing Tool, AquaPainter, and Dimensionals

It's too bad that SU! retired this DSP paper because it's so cheery and fun. It always brightens my outlook when I use it, and hope it will brighten someone's day when they receive it! Hope you get inspired with my take on the Mojo Monday sketch this week. Try it yourself and let me know how your's turns out.

Happy creative stampin!

Sharon

Buggy Today, Worm Tomorrow

Seems today is just a little buggy - actually that was really yesterday. I needed to make a child's birthday card and was trying to think about what an eight year old boy would like. Perusing my stamp wall, I found all kinds of flowers and flowery sayings, but not much that had any boyish appeal. Then my wandering eyes lit on my buggy stamp set. Just the ticket! We were off and running so to speak!

Awhile back, I had seen a cute background someone had made using lots of circles in 3 main colors that were then used throughout the card. I thought that idea would work for this card too, since I had nothing else for that layer. I chose Crushed Curry, Ruby Red, and Old Olive, and the rest is history.

All stamps and materials by Stampin'Up!

Stamps: Cute As A Bug, Delightful Decorations
Cardstock: Whisper White, Ruby Red, Crushed Curry, and Old Olive

Ink: Crushed Curry, Ruby Red, and Old Olive

Accessories: Summer Sun Corduroy Button, Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Distressing Tool, Mat Pack and Piercing Tool, and Dimensionals

What do you think? Does is work for a little boy? Making things for boys is not something I do very often and find myself at a loss most times.

I thought the parade of bugs on the inside of the card would be a cute idea. I'm still working on the possibility of the worm carrying a HB banner. Would that work???

Hope you're having a great day today and turn those things that 'bug' you into a card! I'll try to get some ideas set up to post tonight, as I'll be doing jury duty starting tomorrow. Doesn't that sound like fun?! Oh well, off to enjoy my day stamping. Hope you can too!

Sharon