Happiness Shared Case

Hey there! It's snowy outside and Christmas is just around the corner, but this week's classes were focused on just about anything but Christmas! The ladies all said they'd already decided on their cards and didn't want any more ideas to make them want to change their minds at this late date. So instead we had birthdays, sympathy, thinking of you, etc., etc. It was a fun break from everything holiday.


The first class project was very feminine and elegant. This card was sent to me by my sister Connie. She had used it for a class project a couple of months ago and it was a big hit for her. So, why reinvent the wheel when you've already got a winner?? Of course, there was a little tweak or two, but not many changes. It definitely looks harder to make than it is as long as you have some directions. And that's what I'm here for!


Stamps: Happiness Shared
Cardstock: Basic Black, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, and Whisper White
Ink: Stazon Jet Black, Wild Wasabi, Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, and So Saffron
Accessories: Corner Rounder Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Curly Label Punch, Aqua Painter, and Striped Organza Ribbon

I had thoughts of dry-embossing the Pink Pirouette layer, but decided I liked the simplicity and clean lines as it was. Instead of the sentiment from the set across the front, several ladies chose to use either a birthday or sympathy sentiment. Each of those worked equally well with the card design and colors, so I'd say this was one very versatile design and I'll probably be making more or these to keep on hand. Thanks Connie for sharing such a fabulous card idea with me!!! The ladies in class all loved it!

Hope you give this idea a try too. Clean, simple, and absolutely lovely! Thanks for stopping by. Have a cozy evening and try to stay warm.
Sharon

Welcome Baby

A good friend of mine from church is a new grandmother!! Her daughter had her baby this past week, and my friend is walking on air right now! Having a new baby in the family can really do that to you. Believe me, I know what I'm talking about! lol So, I sat down to make her a card and thought I'd share it with you. I'm sure you've seen lots of the onesie shaped cards already, so it really isn't anything super-special. But I've never made one before and didn't have a pattern for one either. Therefore the dimensions might be a bit different. I just started with a regular sized top-fold card and started in with my punches. Actually it wasn't as hard as I thought it'd be. I only have one big problem. Now that the card is done, I can't send it! It turned out waaaaay too girlish for me 'cuz the new baby is a little boy. I thought I'd be okay with the colors, but I sure was wrong. It's back to the drawing board for a more boyish version.

Stamps: retired "welcome baby" and Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Pacific Point and Real Red
Ink: Real Red and Basic Black
Accessories: Paper Snips, Word Window Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Large Oval Punch, and Star Punch









Like I mentioned earlier, I thought these colors would be boyish enough, but the scalloped edges really sends a different message. They do make the onesie cuter, but takes away the masculine appearance. Not sure what I'll figure for the next one. Maybe I should give up on the idea of a shaped card altogether and do something much more traditional. Not as much fun, but at least I know how to make it look like it's for a baby boy!!





Here's another shot for you. I just loved the idea of the pocket! But way too cutesie for a little fella.

In case you're wondering, I used the Word Window Punch to get started on the arm sections. I punched at an angle a couple of times to give me the shape I thought it should have. Then I trimmed the shape nicely with my snips.

Ok, that's it. I'm off to try this card again. Wish me luck with this one. Otherwise I'll end up with a stash of new baby cards and nothing to send!
Thanks for stopping by today.
Sharon

Latte Love Remake

Last month I was working on a Valentine card for our stamping night at church. I posted the card for you here, but thought I'd do a remake on it. Sort of caseing myself I guess. I liked the layout, but wanted to punch it up a little. I had just read an article in a stamping magazine that said that gray was the new black. Soooo...... Why don't you check the two and let me know what you think. Which one do you like better? The original, more traditional colors and look, or a more updated version??

Stamps: Pun Fun

Cardstock: Blushing Bride, Basic Gray, and Very Vanilla with Lap of Luxury Designer Series Paper

Ink: Stazon Jet Black, Blushing Bride, and Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Aqua Painter, Two Step Owl Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Pinking Hearts Border Punch, Basic Rhinestones, Very Vanilla 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Subtles Flower Brads, Piercing Tool and Mat Pack, and Dimensionals

So what do you think of the changes? I have to admit I like them both myself and I'm having a horrible time choosing which I like better. They both have their good points. Awww shucks, guess I just can't choose! I can like both of them!!

Well, that's it for tonight. I have to get cracking on the last project for classes next week. I seem to be hung up on the last project. Nothing seems to be coming together. Who knows, after playing around with this card, maybe something might click and everything will fall into place. At least that's what I'm hoping for anyway!! When I get the class projects taken care of I'll be back to share them with you.

Take care out there! We've got a winter storm heading this way later tonight. Hope it's not too bad out there in the morning and I can get to church. Stay snug!!
Sharon

Change of Pace

Today I'm sharing something with you that I don't normally do. This card was made with two contraband stamps. Oh, no, treason!! Shhhhh, don't tell anybody that I'm actually using something other than Stampin' Up! So if you're a SU! purist, stop reading right now and come back tomorrow!

Actually this stamp and the sentiment have been in my stash for close to 18 years. It was one of my go-to stamps when I just wanted to cheer someone up. But it's been tucked away for years and really needed just a little touch of love before it gets tucked away again. And horrors!, the golden yellow cardstock is not SU! either!! It was given to me by one of the ladies from church that come to make cards for the soliers last month. She thought I could find a use for it. When I saw the color, I immediately thought of this stamp to go along with it. So here's one of the cards we made on Tuesday night....


Stamps: non-SU!
Cardstock: Whisper White and non-SU!
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Colored Pencils, 2-Way Glue Pen with Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Word Window Punch, Regals Mini Brads










Isn't this chubby little bee cute? It always brings a smile to my face, so I hope the soldiers that choose this card will love it too!

There was something a little quirky that happened when I made this card. Can you see on the wings where I used the 2-Way Glue Pen and glitter? I used only white pencil lightly on the wings to keep them transparent looking. Yet each time we used the glue pen it left a rosy mark on the card. I checked the glue pen and there was no red on it at all. So where did the rosy color come from???? Very strange indeed.

Well, hopefully I'll get a chance to stamp today for a little bit and then I'll have something using Stampin' Up! stamps and products tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed that I can actually get to it! Toodles...
Sharon

Beary Nice Birthday

Ok, I sat down yesterday and worked on the little girl's birthday cards. For some reason, little girls (and big girls too!) seem to be much easier for me to plan out. Don't know why, but it just is! I hadn't played with my bear stamps in quite a while. In fact, all the stamps I own in the "Growing Up" category are sadly avoided. Maybe with that little grandson in our lives those stamps will get used more regularly now. At least that's the plan. So, on with the card I worked on yesterday. The ladies did a wonderful job of coloring the bears with chalks and I think they had fun doing something a little out of the ordinary for us.

Stamps: Beary Best Friends and Beary Nice Wishes
Cardstock: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, and Apricot Appeal (sadly retired) along with a retired Designer Paper that I don't remember the name of - sorry!
Ink: Tempting Turquoise and Apricot Appeal (retired), and Basic Brown (also retired!)
Accessories: Stampin' Pastels




It's been awhile since I had my chalk pastels out too. So it was fun sharing with the ladies how to use them, and they did a great job coloring the bears. It's always fun to try 'new' products when you're still sort of a new stamper and not a totally addicted stamper the has just about everything already!! Hope the little girls that get these bears for their birthday cards like them as much as we enjoyed making them.

Just a quick update on our stamping for the soldiers last night. Because of everything going on at church this month (including a MOPS Christmas Party tonight that 4 of my regulars were at!) we still accomplished quite a bit for only 5 of us that were there. Out of the 5, four of us had worked on the Ladies Guild Christmas Dinner Monday night so we were all exhausted and just a little bit slap-happy. We laughed so much last night it's a wonder we got anything made at all. Surprisingly, we actually finished 117 cards!! Woo Hoo!!! Now it's time to get them all boxed up for the "From Our Hearts" ladies and off to the Post Office.

Thanks for stopping by today. Relax, enjoy your day, and find some time for stamping!
Sharon

Choo Choo Birthday

I know Christmas is right around the corner and all, but today I'm taking a break from all things Christmas. At least for this post anyway! Many of you have read that I make cards every month with a group of ladies from church. We send these to From Our Hearts for the military personnel to use. Since the last of our Christmas cards were sent in early October, we've been concentrating on Valentine cards. But all the mushy red and pink stuff has really been a bit much lately. So this month we're taking a break and making more general style and birthday cards. Don't you think this little train card will be perfect for some little boy that's crazy about anything with trains?

Stamps: Choo Choo and On Your Birthday

Cardstock: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, and Basic Black

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Riding Hood Red, and Going Gray (retired)

Accessories: Spiral Border Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch

This card is very straight forward - what you see is how you make it! My friend Michelle Glennie suggested using the Spiral Border Punch to give the black layer a look of train tracks. It was the perfect touch!

Those of you that have used the sentiment stamp (look who's...) know how hard it is to get a clean impression with no residual ink inside the parenthesis, so I got around that by adding a 1/2" circle of Bashful Blue cardstock. It fits in the parenthesis just like it was made for it. (hmmm, maybe it was!) Anyway, for the stack of cards we'll be making tonight, it will be a big help!! And it helps to focus on the number that the user can write in there. All in all it works out well.

Thanks for stopping by today. It's back to the creating table to get another card idea planned out and all the materials cut and packed. I think this time I need to find something for a little girl to even out the cards alittle. Don't you agree? Have a great day...

Sharon

Tiny Gift Bags

It's been said that good things come in small packages, and I've got just the right sized package for some wonderful gift. One of the first things I learned to make when I became a SU! demonstrator fourteen years ago was a bag-a-lope. I was totally blown away that you could make a gift bag from a 10x13 envelope. How cool was that?! Fast-forward a bunch of years, and I'm making a little tiny version with a handle. And I still think they're cool!!

Stamps: A Cute Christmas stamp set and Christmas Chatter Jumbo Wheel

Cardstock: White Medium Envelope, Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, and Whisper White cardstock with Jolly Holiday Designer Paper

Ink: Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, and Basic Gray pads with Always Artichoke Marker

Accessories: Aqua Painter, Jumbo Handle, Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1/8" Hole Punch, Tag Punch, White Gel Pen

Sure seems like a lot of materials to make a tiny gift bag, but it's well worth it. And while you've got everything out to make one, why not make several more? This little bag is perfect for a gift card, or why not tuck in one of our Simply Adorned Charms and Chain for a truly Stampin' Up! Christmas gift?

Since we don't have any Always Artichoke ribbon of this style, you can just make your own. I ran a line of Always Artichoke ink with a marker right over the center portion of the taffeta ribbon. So easy and you've got whatever color you need.

If you haven't made one of these little bags yet, it's very simple. Start with an envelope, seal it well - it helps to use SNAIL adhesive along the edges of the flap. Wheel or stamp your background design. Score along both sides and the bottom at 3/4". Punch down along one side edge with the Tag Punch in as far as you can. Slide it out partially to take out the rest of that side. Do this again on the other side so you've created the handle. Fold and crease the score lines with a bone folder. Then it's time to manipulate the sides and bottom to make it look like a paper grocery bag. Add any embellishments you like and you're almost done.

The last touch is the crinkle shreds for the bag. Can you believe it's just the kraft packing paper from your SU! order boxes? I folded several layers of paper and cut skinny strips. Then I crumpled them up in my hands really tight. Shake them loose a bit and stuff your bag. Fun!!

Hope you give this idea a try. You never know when you're going to need one of those tiny little gift bags for something special! Thanks for stopping by today.

Sharon