New Year's Eve

Yes, the hours are counting down to the end of another year.  Have you taken time out to review 2012 and consider changes you might want to make to the coming year?  Sometimes that can be a really gut-wrenching situation, but it can also be very enlightening on how you want to live the next 12 months.  Whew, that's getting pretty deep there.  Hope I haven't lost you yet!  Instead of being too introspective, let's look ahead to the coming year with Stampin' Up!  The new Spring Mini Catalog is coming up in just 3 days!  How exciting is that?!  Today I have a card to share using some of the new products, and boy do I love them!  Hope you do too.

Stamps:  En Francais, Hearts a Flutter, and Happy Valentine Heart
Ink:  Real Red, Crumb Cake, and Early Espresso
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Real Red, and Crumb Cake
Accessories:  Big Shot with Honeycomb TIEF, Hearts a Flutter Framelit Dies, Full Heart Punch, Small Heart Punch, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Crumb Cake 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Sponge Daubers, and Dimensionals

So, whatdya think?  Some pretty cool new products there, right?  Don't you just 'love' the new heart stamps?  And I'm so tickled that the lacy heart stamp has a Framelit to match - along with a bunch of other Framelits to match all the Hearts a Flutter stamps.  That just makes the stamping so much easier!  What card doesn't look better with a few popped-up accent pieces?

And did you notice the cool Honeycomb embossing folder?  It's so versatile.   I can see that's going to be getting quite a workout with my stamping.

Now we're going to have to talk on January 3rd about that cute little Happy Valentine Heart stamp.  It comes as a bundle with some cello bags to make quick and easy treat/gifts.  You'll just love it!

Ok, this is it for this year.  Full Steam Ahead in 2013!  Wishing you a creative, happy new year!!

Season of Giving

Oh my, can you believe I'm posting two days in a row?  Yowza!  Since Christmas time is the season of giving to others, I thought it would be a good time to post a card using the Ronald McDonald House stamp set.  It always makes me feel good when I can give to help others in less fortunate circumstances.  And purchasing this year's stamp set called Moving Forward gives a $3 donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities.  It's a win-win for everyone!

Stamps: Moving Forward
Ink:  Gumball Green pad, Midnight Muse marker
Paper:  Whisper White, Midnight Muse, and Gumball Green
Accessories:  Midnight Muse Stitched Ribbon

This is a very simple child's card that stamped up in a jiffy.  The marker was used to color the little dots on the main image, and also color the curly trail behind it.  The strip of Gumball Green cardstock was added to give it a little more color and suggest the ground beneath.

Thanks for stopping in today.  Just closing out a few items before the end of the year.  Have a great weekend and a restful Sunday!  Sharon

 

 

Christmas Gifts

I bet you thought I was long gone by now.  It's been a rough month of lousy health and laying low (like either bed or sofa!!).  I finally got out of the house on the 22nd, but it was to go to the funeral of a very sweet woman from church.  Christmas was tiring, but oh so wonderful, spent with our family.  What could be better than little ones enjoying Christmas?  So that's been my month so far.   Not exactly as planned, but it is what it is.  I had mentioned sharing the pictures that I made for my daughter and 2 sisters.  Luckily I made them in November before the bronchitis and pneumonia hit me for a loop!  Today I'm finally getting around to sharing them.  The first one is the original one I made for my younger sister, and I made one for myself too.  Here it is...

Instead of a listing of all the materials and products used, I'll just give a little explanation here.  The frame has an opening of 11"x14".  The cardstock used on the background is Primrose Petals.  The Designer Series Paper is Be Of Good Cheer and one square of each of the different prints was used.  The cardstock layer behind the DSP is Cherry Cobbler.  The lettering on this one was done on the Cricut by a friend of mine - no idea of the cartridge name.  Accents were made on the Big Shot with Champagne Glimmer Paper and other items.  That's the basics for you.

 This blue version was made for my daughter who has decided to use blue and silver for all her Christmas decorating, so I went along with her wishes.  The lettering here was made with the retired SU! Serif Essentials Bigz Die set that I'll hang on to probably forever!  I had to hit the stores looking for printed papers that would, hopefully, fit her ideas!  I used Bashful Blue cardstock for the background and Marina Mist for the layering. I laid out the lettering and accents for the picture pretty much the same as the original one, just changing the colors as needed.

My older sister loves purple.  No, that's not quite right.  My older sister LOVES purple in any of it's many shades and hues.  Now you get the idea!  Luckily the printed paper package I got for my daughter had even more purples than blues in it, so I was set for this picture too.  The background cardstock I used was Wisteria Wonder and it blended perfectly with all these different purples.  I dug into my retired cardstock and found Concord Crush cardstock that blended well with everything.  I also used that color of ink for the mug ang 'merry'.

Ok, that pretty much covers the info on these picture gifts.  Thanks for coming back to see if I'm still here.  Now that I'm on the mend, I hope to be hanging out here more often.  Hope your Christmas was wonderful and wishing you a very blessed New Year.  Sharon

Snowflake Mug Card

Have I fallen off the face of the earth you ask?  Well, almost - but I'm clawing my way back up again.  The whole strep infection and ensuing sinus, coughing, etc has been exhausting and not over yet.  Maybe if I'd settle down and quit running around like a chicken with my head cut off, I'd have a better chance of beating this whole infection thingy.  But since when have I ever done what was the smartest thing?  Not often!  Anyway, enough of the fretting and whining, I've got a little card to share with you today.  I made my sister a gift that I can't show you yet because another sister checks this blog every once in awhile and I don't want to give away Christmas secrets too soon, ya know?  But the "gifted" sister adores purple in any and all of  it's wonderfulness.  Since we don't have any DSP that's in shades of purples to use, I had to purchase some from one of the 'other' stores.  Thought she'd like a card that coordinated with the gift.  If the idea of contraband paper bothers you, don't look any farther.   If you think you can handle it, then this is what I made...

Stamps:  Scentsational Season, All Holidays(retired)
Ink:  Eggplant Envy
Paper:  Midnight Muse, Whissper White and otherDSP
Accessories:  Scallop Trim Border Punch, Big Shot with Holiday Collection Framelits, Scribbles Sizzlit (retired), Rhinestone Basic Jewels, and Dimensionals

This card is very simple with just a little lacy trim on both sides of the printed paper center strip.  The paper has both blue and light purple snowflakes in the tiny white circles.

I love the glittery steamy swirls on this card.  It just makes this card so very cute in person.  I tried the steam that comes with the set, but it didn't stand out and catch your eye like this does. 

Give me a couple more weeks and I'll share the gift that goes along with this card.  I think it's just gorgeous and makes me want to decorate my house in blues and purples too!

Please stay healthy during this busy time of the year.  Take some time for yourself to relax and enjoy the season!  Sharon

Evergreen in Cherry Cobbler

While perusing the Stampin' Connection site for demonstrators, I happened upon a lovely card by Gerry MacSporran that I just had to CASE.  Thanks Gerry for your inspiration!  It had all the hallmarks of the type of cards I've been drawn to lately.  I made very little in the way of changes, and here is my version of Gerry's card.

Stamps:  Evergreen
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler
Paper:  Cherry Cobbler and Whisper White
Accessories:   Big Shot with Northern Flurries TIEF, and Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Well, you can't get too much more basic than this card.  So very simple with only one extra layer on the front, but still elegant.  There's just something about those embossed snowflakes on white cardstock - love it!  Then you just add some rich Cherry Cobbler ink and some lovely trees and there you have it.  Oh yes, don't forget the rhinestone to top the tree.  (Gerry used a star she cut out and layered on.) 

So what's not to like about this card?  I can see making a few more of these (maybe trying other colors too) in my near future!  Thanks again Gerry for a fabulous card idea!  It is terrific.  And thank you for checking in again today.  I'm still under the weather with this strep throat thing that's hanging on, but the antibiotics are working and I'll be at the Regional coming to Lansing this Saturday.  Wouldn't miss it!  Maybe I'll see you there too.    Sharon

Simple Greeting Card Kids

One of the sets in the catalog is a favorite of mine because the kids are so dog-gone cute.  I'm talking about the Greeting Card Kids set.  Each one of them is adorable and I find myself using this set every season I can.  So here's my Christmas card using the cuddly little girl with her wagon and tree.  Hope you like it as much as I do!

Stamps:  Greeting Card Kids and Greetings of the Season
Ink:  Stazon Jet Black and Watercolor Wonder Crayons
Paper:  Whisper White, Raspberry Ripple, and Old Olive
Accessories:   Big Shot with Window Frames Framelits, AquaPainter, White Organza Ribbon, Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, and Dimensionals

I've really been leaning towards the cleaner, leaner looking cards lately without lots of layers  and doodads on them.  This still looks like it has the clean lines that I like even though there are several layers of cardstock and 2 layers of ribbon. 

I'd thought of using the die-cut layers lined up straight, but decided it was more interesting with them set at angles instead.  I used both the Subtles and Regals Watercolor Wonder Crayons for this card.  They're so simple to use just by touching the tip of the AquaPainter to the crayon and painting away.  I always did like to color when little, and  still haven't outgrown it yet!

Thanks for checking it again!  I appreciate any and all of your comments.  Leave me an email address so I can reply to you personally.  When you comment you really inspire me want to do even better!  Thanks,
Sharon

Another Blue Lodge Card

Did I mention we had a great time visiting family a couple weeks ago?  Seems like we enjoyed ourselves so much we brought some extra stuff home with us - like germs!  One of our nephew's children was just getting over tonsilitis when we arrived.  When we returned home, our 2year old grandson came down with it and now his baby brother, my daughter and I all have gotten it too.  Now doesn't that sound like fun?  Seems like everybody is cranky and out of sorts with it and we all need a couple days to just sleep it off!  Don't you love it when the good times just keep on coming?  Now enough of the whining and on to a card for you.  I promised I'd be working on another version of the blue Christmas Lodge card I posted last.  And here it is - a little simpler, and I think I like it even better.  What's your opinion?

Stamps:  Christmas Lodge and Petite Pairs
Ink:  Midnight Muse
Paper:  Midnight Muse, Bashful Blue, and Whisper White
Accessories:  Big Shot with Labels Collection Framelits, Stamp-a-ma-jig, and Midnight Muse Stitched Ribbon

I just love this tree done with multiple stamping to give it a "foresty" look.  What, there's no word like that?  Oh well, you all know exactly what I mean, don't you?  So that's 5 stampings from just one inking.  That ink is really intense!  And each one of the stamped trees are all great different blues.  Love it!

The cut from the Labels Collection Framelit perfectly frames these trees and allows just a little room for the sentiment without having to add another layer.  That's a help when you're having to mail bunches of cards at Christmas time.

Hope you like this version of the tree from the Christmas Lodge set.  And right now you can order just the tree separately as one of the Single Stamps that Stampin'Up! has available.  These single stamps will only be available until January 2, 2013, so it you want just the tree and not the rest of this set, now is the perfect time to order.  Just click on my 'order now' button and have fun!  There are plenty of other single stamps available too, so don't miss out.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Don't think any of these nasty germs can get to you through the computer so you're safe for now.  I've got more to share with you tomorrow, so come on back.  Sharon