Punchy Class

Yes, I finally did host a Punchy Class after getting several requests for it. Funny, many of the ladies requesting the class didn't sign up for it. Hmmmm..... That always confuses me. Maybe it was just a bad night for them. Who knows. Anyway, we did have fun last night and made four projects too. But I'm only going to show you two of them. And the candy bar cover was made by Brenda and Dawn - two ladies that came to class! They made one for everyone who came to class. Thanks guys - you're the very best!!! We had made pumpkins like these last year on one of the cards during the fall season. I'm glad to see they remember the different things we've done and actually re-use the ideas! Yay!

The very last card we made was this cute little crow sitting on a hay bale. He was the most involved so I saved him for last. We had to work our way up to this level! lol Here's the list of punches used:

Scallop Circle, 1 3/4" Circle, Large Oval, 1 1/4" Circle, Wide Oval, 1" Circle, Boho Blossom, Small Oval, 1/4" Circle, Word Window, and 1/8" Circle

Whee-dawgies! That's a lot of punches there.

Stamps: Sanded, Woodgrain, and Teeny Tiny Wishes

Cardstock: More Mustard, Old Olive, Basic Black, Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa, and Summer Sun

Ink: Close to Cocoa pad, Basic Black and Close to Cocoa Markers

Accessories: Big Shot with Texturz Plates Kit #4, Black Hemp Twine (retired), Neutrals Buttons, Paper Snips,Dimensionals, and Mini Glue Dots

This was the first project because it was the easiest. This acorn is just so darn cute!!!

Punches: Ornament, Wide Oval, Large Oval

Stamps: Grateful Greetings, Sanded

Cardstock: Creamy Caramel, Soft Suede with Autumn Traditions Designer Series Papers

Ink: Soft Suede

Accessories: Sponge quarter, Piercing Tool and Mat Pack, Gold Mini Brads, and Dimensionals

Just loved making the acorns. I've made a few extras and I'm just looking around for a place to use them. Maybe I should try planting one to see if I get an oak tree out of it? lol

This is what Brenda and Dawn made. Very cute, right?? Shhh, don't tell anyone that they used some contraband DSP. I thought it was really cute though and quite looked nice even if it wasn't SU!

They used: Big Shot with Top Note Die, SU! Little Leaves Sizzlits Die, Designer Label Punch, and Small Oval Punch, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, and Chocolate Chip cardstocks.

Don't you agree that they did an awesome job on these? Thanks so much ladies - you're the very bestest friends!!

Well, that's it for today's post. Hope these ideas inspire you and make you get your punches out! On your mark, get set, start punching!!!

Think I'm getting a bit punchy here! (groan)

Sharon

Love Those Ornaments!

Yes, I really, really do! This is one of those awesome SU! stamp and punch combos that just makes me happy!! (doing the happy dance here!) Both items are great by themselves, but when you put them together, it's magic! So I just have to keep going back to the combo and creating something new with it. This time I used the Petals a Plenty embossing folder to add some texture to the background. Then for a touch of bling, I sponged on just a bit of the Champagne Shimmer Paint. It really makes the embossing look so pretty and elegant. Adding the layer of Brushed Gold cardstock and the ornament punched from the gold cardstock too are the finishing touches.


Stamps: Delightful Decorations
Cardstock: Real Red, Very Vanilla, and Brushed Gold
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: Ornament Punch, Big Shot with Petals a Plenty Texturz Impressions, Champagne Shimmer Paint, Sponge quarter, Gold cording, and Dimensionals

Did you happen to notice the tiny strip of gold cardstock on the card? It's just one of those skinny strips that get discarded when trimming layers. You just never know when those little strips of cardstock will be just what's needed on a card. Honestly, I don't save all of the little scraps, just the specialty paper ones like this Brushed Gold. It's just too pretty to throw in the garbage. What a horrid thought! But if I saved everything, there wouldn't be room in the basement for me anymore! LOL
Hope you enjoy the idea. It really doesn't take much time to put together once you have the idea! I just might be doing a few more of these for sending out myself.

Have a great week,
Sharon

Patterned Trees card

Can't believe it's Thursday already. This week is just flying by and I've been trying to play catch-up all week. There's just so much to do and definitely not enough hours in the day to get it all done! But somehow I always find time to get some stamping in, don't you? It's really my business, my passion, and my therapy all rolled into one! LOL

Well, one of the things my hubby would love for me to do is get organized and throw out stuff I don't use. Now for me, that is almost an impossible task. You just never know when you might need that 4" strip of ribbon. Or I just might figure out what to do with that half-finished card(s) that's sitting there. Anyway, I've been teaching classes for awhile (like maybe forever!). When someone cancels at the last minute, there's a packet with nicely cut cardstock layers with envelopes, ribbons or other doo-dads, instructions, etc all leftover. I always think I'll get around to making up the extras, and sometimes I actually do!! But that still leaves a huge pile of packets that seems to be growing when I'm not paying too close attention to it! So I've been trying to reduce the mountainous pile of packets. Hence today's card:

Do you remember Cranberry Crisp? I just loved the color and somehow have a bit extra sitting around. But these pieces were for a card that I don't even own the stamp set that was originally planned for it. Oh well, that just means improvising - a little old, a little new.

Stamps: Patterned Trees (Hostess Level1) and sentiment from A Cardinal Christmas

Cardstock: Handsome Hunter, Cranberry Crisp, and Very Vanilla

Ink: Handsome Hunter and Cranberry Crisp

Accessories: Cranberry Crisp Stitched Ribbon, Sponge quarter, and Dimensionals

I still have more Cranberry Crisp cardstock and ribbon left, so you never know when they just might pop up again. But I feel really good that I remade 6 new cards with leftover cut cardstock and ribbon. Now that's an accomplishment! Of course, that is also such a tiny pebble from the mountain of card class packets that's staring me in the face. LOL But it's a start!! And I'm going to continue to feel good about getting started!

Time to get working on whatever mountains you've got staring you in the face. It feels good!

On to climbing my Mt. Everest of cardstock!

Sharon

Anniversary Blog Candy #1

Hi there! It's me again. I didn't think I'd make it through classes yesterday, but I did! Hooray!! It sure took it's toll though. I was about numb by the time everything was finished. Now, where is that energy fix? I'm still hacking and wheezing away and get tired so darn quickly. But that's not why you're here. Last month I kept mentioning that October is my big anniversary with Stampin' Up! I've enjoyed being part of this terrific company for 12 full years, minus a couple of weeks. Hmmmm... That came out just a tad skewed there. I've really enjoyed being part of the company and in a bunch of days I'll be celebrating the actual date. There that's better.

Anyway, I mentioned numerous times about a drawing for blog candy to help me celebrate. It was easy to enter the drawing - just leave comments for me. And so many of you did and I appreciated every single comment left!! Here's a picture of a tag-holder packet that I'd like to send out the the lucky lady! It's made with Garden Green cardstock and the Merry Moments Designer Series Paper. The tags fit inside two Word Window punched slots and are an assortment of anything and everything that I thought would make into a cute tag. This should help you get ready for Christmas!

So who's the lucky lady? drumroll please..... On Sept 10th

jaydee said...
Sharon.... the colors are gorgeous and I love the way you added texture to the card with the corduroy button in the middle of the medallion and tied it to the ribbon. great job. btw... thank you for visiting my blog and congrats on your upcoming anniversary.Peace and hugsJaydee

So Jaydee, please contact me at:

scstamper@comcast.net so I can send out your gift! I loved hearing from you and really appreciated your comment!! I'll need an address to send it on to you.

Thanks so much to all of you that have been watching my blog lately and all the wonderful comments you leave. You really lift me up when I'm sitting in the bottom of the barrel. Watch for another drawing next week to continue the celebration!! (horns blowing and confetti raining down!)

Back to stamping and musing for another day,

Sharon

Not Quite Back to Normal

Of course, I'm never too sure just what constitutes 'normal'. lol But whatever normal is, I'm not quite there yet. The doctor assured me I wouldn't be contagious anymore which is always a good thing. She didn't tell me that I'd still be feeling lower than zero percent energy levels though. Where is my energy? I went looking for it today, but got tired before I found it. lol This is supposed to be class week. And already the calls have been coming in to cancel because ladies have the flu bug themselves, or bronchitis, or one or more of their children are home sick. Yuck. This is soooo depressing! This looks like it's turning out to be one of the sickest autumns ever around my group of family and friends. How about you out there? Are you still feeling ok? Not sick yet? No fever and chills?? I sure hope you're all doing perfectly well and stay that way!

So to cheer us all up, I thought I share a lovely Christmas card with you. I made this one several weeks ago, but just had too many other things more important to share instead.

Stamps: Winter Post

Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White

Ink: Basic Brown, Tempting Turquoise, Blush Blossom, Taken with Teal Classic and White Craft

Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch, AquaPainter, Gold Mini Brad, Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, and Dimensionals

I really like the looks of these colors together. I guess I've been moving away from the more traditional Christmas colors lately. Now that doesn't mean I'm tired of the 'tried and true' red and green. It just means I've become a little more adventuresome. Try putting some new colors together to make some card samples and see what you come up with. I'd love it if you'd share your ideas with me too. We all grow and expand our horizons when we share with others. Right?

And right now it's time to get finished for classes. Hope you all have a wonderful evening.

Stay happy. Stay healthy.

Until next time..

Sharon

Is Soft Suede the New Black?

A couple of days ago, I swung by Gretchen Barron's website to check out her latest challenge sketch. She always has nice sketches and I needed something to get me going again. I liked the looks of it, but was just too tired to manage it at the time. After thinking about it a couple days, I came up with an idea I wanted to try. Not too sure what you'll think of this one 'cuz the colors aren't what you'd expect. Give me a holler and tell me if it works or not.

This is it! Tell me, tell me! Does it work or was it a crazy idea?

Stamps: Punch Pals

Cardstock: Kraft, Whisper White, and Soft Suede with Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper

Ink: Stazon Jet Black and Soft Suede pads, and Real Red, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, and Soft Suede Markers

Accessories: Big Shot with SU! Backgrounds Texturz Plates, Soft Suede Polka Dotted Ribbon, AquaPainter, and Dimensionals

I really love the color you get when you watercolor with Soft Suede ink. It's so yummy and warm - just like cocoa! So then, what could be better for a wintery Christmas card? I asked my hubby about the color for a Christmas card, and he thought it looked 'all right'. I guess it's ok then if he says so! Normally he doesn't say too much about my cards one way or the other. So I have to be happy when I get any kind of a compliment like 'all right'. lol

Still snifflin' and coughin',

Sharon

Many Serene Snowflakes

Well, I just got back from seeing my favorite doctor again. Good news! I don't have pneumonia! Hooray! Since I was feeling so tired and short of breath lately, this was a worry for me. Now for the bad news, I've now got a sinus infection and bronchitis. Yuck. These germs just keep changing around into something else. She says I don't have the flu bug anymore, but she's giving me an antibiotic for the sinus infection, etc. I'll be so thrilled when this is all over and I have some energy again!!!! I am just soooooo tired!

Yesterday I was making some cards for the From Our Hearts group. I had pulled out some old retired DSP (maybe called Sassy or something like that?) and thought I'd make some all occasion cards for them. I did get 10 cards made. Not as many as I'd like, but better than none. It was so odd making cards with papers I'm not used to. Very weird! Anyway, after I gave up on that I made two very quick and simple cards using Serene Snowflakes. These were so quick to make, and not too many accessories were used. Trying to keep the cards simple enough for anyone to copy. Here they are:


Stamps: Serene Snowflakes and Four for Christmas
Cardstock: Handsome Hunter and Whisper White
Ink: Handsome Hunter
Accessories: Big Shot and Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Folder, Silver Jumbo Brads, and Dimensionals
Sure can't get too much simpler than this one.






Unless you make this one! This might be even simpler than the last one. But I think it's still very nice looking.

Stamps: Serene Snowflakes and four for Christmas
Cardstock: Whisper White, Ballet Blue, and Night of Navy
Ink: Ballet Blue and Night of Navy
Accessories: Square Ice Rhinestone Brads, Night of Navy Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon, and Dimensionals



That's it for today I think. I still need to get back to the drugstore for my antibiotics and then it might be time for a nap. I'm not kidding, I never take naps, But I am really, really, really tired!

Take care and stay well. Maybe I'll feel more like myself tomorrow. Hope so...

Sharon