Whooo's There?? Sketch

Today I stopped by Karen Giron's The Sweetest Thing blog and she had her Sweet Sunday Sketch posted. It's a cute little sketch that was fun and easy to work with. I also meandered to Pals Paper Arts site( first time there - it's awesome!) and they've got a sketch going on that's Halloween themed. So it got me thinking about fall and Halloween. And that got me thinking about some On Board chipboard pieces that I had never gotten around to playing with. Well, I figured it was about time to rectify that oversight! LOL So here is today's card for you. What do you think??? Isn't it darling? Whoo loves ya baby!


All stamps and materials by Stampin'Up!

Stamps: Owl Together Now
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, and Whisper White cardstock with Chocolate Chip and Old Olive Designer Series Papers
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic and Pumpkin Pie Craft ink
Accessories: On Board So Tweet, 3/4" Circle Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Circle Scissors Plus, Earth Elements Mini Brads, Alpine Ribbon Originals (retired), Sanding Blocks, Sponge quarter, Tombow Multi-Purpose Adhesive, and Dimensionals

The card is a little differently sized. It's a 4.25 x 4.25 inch square. It'll still fit in a regular envie, but just gets a different look. This way the ribbon can hang off the side and not get crunched in the envie either! See, there's a reason for everything - sort of anyway!! lol

I saw another owl card on Melissa Young's blog here, and just fell in love with the owl. It's just the cutest thing on two feet! So of course I had to try one out myself. Now why haven't I used this chipboard before? Ummm, I think I forgot I bought it, but I'm glad it's off the shelf now! So get out your chipboard and play. Oh, you don't have any? Well, get in touch with me and I'd be happy to order some for you. You certainly don't want to miss out on the fun, now do you?

Hope you enjoyed my little Halloween hoot owl. Make sure you check out both Karen Giron's site and the Pals Paper Arts site for some great inspiration. They've got it in spades!
Happy Sunday -
Sharon

Stamping 411 Tree Trimmings

Wow, I'm really skipping around with the seasons, aren't I? Since it's been so chilly here, I figured it was time to start making the Christmas cards I'll need for this year. There is something that bothers me about making 50 or more of one single card idea. It just takes all the creativity out of it! Therefore, I must make a plethora of different Christmas card designs and make small multiples of anywhere from 1 to maybe 15 cards of each design. Isn't that how everybody does it? There's always an idea out there that I just have to make at least once! And you don't know which idea it is until you've made maybe a dozen or two different cards. Then you can pick and choose which one you want to make multiples of. Right??? Whadiya mean that's not how to do it?!? Who says I can't make piles of different cards? I need to! You see, it's sort of an obsession with me - but shhh, don't tell anybody. I don't want everybody to know all about my weird quirks. Sheesh, I meant to say lovable behavior, that is. LOL
Anyway, I really do have a card to share with you today. Sorry it's taken me so long to get around to it. Here's the latest Christmas card idea that hatched. It follows the sketch at Stamping 411 here. Hope you like it.


All stamps and materials by Stampin'Up!

Stamps: Tree Trimmings and Season's Greetings (retired)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Rich Razzleberry, and Old Olive cardstock with Old Olive Designer Series Paper
Ink: Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive Classic, and VersaMark
Accessories: Heat Tool and Gold Embossing Powder, Vanilla HodgePodge Hardward, Dimensionals, and Gold Ribbon (retired)


I was especially happy with the inside of the card. It matched the outside nicely and looked just as pretty. We have so many friends that live at a distance that these words always seemed appropriate to me.
Now for those of you that have art degrees and really know your stuff, I realize I didn't use three ornaments either on the front or the inside. And of course you should always use multiples of three or other uneven number. Oh well, I guess that just goes along with my other problem with multiples that we've already discussed here. So we'll just pretend I never heard of the adage and just enjoy the card. BTW, if you count the 3 ornaments on the front stamped with Versamark ink, that makes 5. So does that mean it's ok now?
That's it for today. Have a good one and check out the sketch at Stamping 411. They always have nice sketches to work with and great samples using the sketches too. It's a great way to jump-start your creativity!
Sharon

Cool Friday

That is cool as in almost cold. Whatever happened to summer this year? It's been rainy and quite cool the last two days. I'm ready for just a little more summer before fall rolls around. I know, I know. I'm never happy with what the weather is outside. Well, that's not quite true either. Usually I don't mind whatever it is as long as I can go down to my stamping dungeon and create. And that's the truth, so there!
Anyway, today I've got a lovely fall card for your perusal. I seem to be dipping into my retired goodies much more often lately. This card uses some More Mustard DSP that was a Hostess Level 1 gift last catalog. I love the color for fall, and this just fit the design so well. Sure wish I could get my hands on more of this!


All stamps and materials by Stampin'Up!

Stamps: Autumn Days, and Refuge & Strength
Cardstock: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, and Very Vanilla cardstock, with More Mustard Designer Series Paper
Ink: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, and Old Olive
Accesssories: Scallop Edge Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Sponge quarter, Old Olive Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon, and Dimensionals

Just a reminder that ordering from the new Holiday Mini Catalog starts in just a few days. If you don't have one yet, just email me and I'll be happy to send one out to you or come on by and pick one up. You're gonna love all the new images and accessories that are available for you! They're fantastic! I'm really enjoying stamping with them and can't wait to show you more ideas!! If you're in the Detroit area and are interested in classes, check with me for information and come join the fun. We'll be making holiday cards again in September. I've got some absolutely lovely cards for you, but you'll have to either come to class or wait til after class when I post them. (what a tease!) lol

Hope you're enjoying the ideas. I love hearing from you and getting feedback. It just makes my day!
Sharon

Sweet Sunday Sketch card

Hi everyone! Today was very productive. I've been making cards for both church and the From Our Hearts group. (Information can be found by clicking on the button on the right.) I came across some old Mauve Mist (remember that color??) cardstock and thought today would be a good day to use it up. It was interesting trying to find some good colors to coordinate with it. After trying just about every color in my stash, I came up with these colors. Do you like them together?

So since I was making cards anyway, I checked in on Karen Giron's Sweetest Thing blog to get the latest sketch challenge. Seemed to work out very nicely with the stamps and colors, don't you think?

All stamps and materials by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Flower Fancy, Wonderful Watercolors, and On Your Birthday
Cardstock: Mauve Mist (retired), Handsome Hunter, Sage Shadow, Purely Pomegranate (retired), and Whisper White
Ink: Mauve Mist(retired), Purely Pomegranate (retired), Sage Shadow Pads, and Handsome Hunter Marker
Accessories: Piercing Tool and Mat Pack, 1 1/4" Circle and 1 3/8" Circle Punches, and Dimensionals

It was fun getting out some old cardstock and ink for a change. When these colors were current, they were some of my very favorites. Guess it was time to give them a little lovin' after all these years! lol Got to get dinner started now. I love days when I actually get things accomplished and it's not midnight yet. Do you have those days when everything comes together right and you surprise yourself with how much you can get done? They don't happen too often for me, so I really need to appreciate them and pat myself on the back.
Ok, on with dinner and reality now!
Sharon

Back in Town Again

It's great to be back at home. This has been a great month with lots of traveling to SLC for convention and then to North Carolina. But it's so good to crawl into my own bed at home and get a good night's rest. Why is it you can always sleep better in your own bed than anywhere else on God's green earth? A bed is a bed is a bed, but my bed is different!

Anyway, being back home means I'm finally getting back to stamping again! The reason for my last trip, was to visit my little brother and his lovely family - including little Brooks Christopher, my two week old grand-nephew. What a darling, sweet little guy! It was love at first sight!! Since we were visiting him, we had to take a special hand-made card for him. Unfortunately, I forgot to get a picture before we left. Darn, where was my head? Obviously it wasn't working too well at the time. But I did make another card that was my reject. Guess I have to show you that one instead! Hope you don't mind second-best too much. After finishing this one, I thought is might be a little too girlie, and I couldn't have that! Not for my macho little guy!

Anyway, this is it. I love using this image for baby cards. It's just so dog-gone cuuute. (This is said with a southern accent!)

All stamps and materials by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Fun & Fast Notes

Cardstock: Bermuda Bay and Watercolor Paper, with So Saffron Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Stazon Jet Black, Bermuda Bay, and So Saffron Pads, and Bermuda Bay Marker

Accessories: AquaPainter, White Gel Pen, Mat Pack and Piercing Tool, White Organza Ribbon, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Rich Regals Mini Brads, and Dimensionals

So what do you think? Is it too girlie girl for a little boy?? I still love the Bermuda Bay with So Saffron. Just yummy together. And don't the polka dots on the DSP work perfect with the dots on the stroller?

Sure wish I'd taken a picture of the card I gave away. I don't remember exactly what I did, or I'd just make another one. Oh well, when it comes to baby cards, they're usually one of a kind for me. So Brooks' card will forever be a mystery.

Check back tomorrow for the next installment. Ta ta!

Sharon

Curly, Swirly Christmas

I'm back with my Rose Red and Handsome Hunter color combo again. Seems like I'm really stuck on these colors. Ok, after today, I promise not to use them again this month! Is that long enough for you? We're talking a whole 'nother week here without my winter standby colors! I hope I last that long... At least I can share this one with you today. Hope you enjoy!

All stamps and materials by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Winter Post, Snow Swirled, and Many Merry Messages

Cardstock: Rose Red, Handsome Hunter, and Whisper White

Ink: Handsome Hunter, Rose Red, and Silver Encore Pad

Accessories: Large Oval Punch, Designer Label Punch, Dimensionals, and Silver Ribbon (retired)

This is another of my quick cards for Christmas. I can never have too many of them, and I'm assuming you are the same. During the next several months, my classes will be focusing on Holiday cards. And as far as I'm concerned, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are all holidays. So we'll get stamping ahead of time, then won't be panicked at the last minute. Oh, you don't have that problem? You're organized and always ready well in advance? Good for you! (and how do you do it??) Well, this is just for me then. I'm making sure I'll be ready ahead of time for a change!

Happy stamping,

Sharon

Pumpkin Patch

Don't you just love autumn? One of my favorite things to do is go to an apple orchard and pick out our own pumpkins. Of course, the trip also necessitates having some cider and donuts while you're there. You know, it's really hard work picking out the perfect pumpkin!

And that's what we have today. A whole patch of pumpkins to choose from on a breezy, blue-skies, fall day. Can you feel the crispness in the air? Can you smell the cider? Yum!

All stamps and materials by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Autumn Harvest, and Wandering Words

Cardstock: Really Rust, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, and Whisper White

Ink: Basic Brown, Really Rust, Pumpkin Pie, Not Quite Navy, and Old Olive pads, and Soft Suede marker

Accessories: Aqua Painter, Paper Snips, Sponge quarters, and Dimensionals

Hope you enjoyed today's post. Can you tell I'm ready for autumn? It's almost time to go swishing through the fallen leaves and hear them crunching and crackling when you walk!

Happy stamping,

Sharon