Pardon the "construction" mess...

I just found the most adorable beachy background for my blog---gotta make it work--as you can see --there are technical difficulties (I don't know how to "shrink" it so you can see the shells, etc.)--any advice out there-please share. Right now, however, I have to go get ready for work which helps pay for this stamping and scrapping habit-oh, who am I fooling--ADDICTION!--of mine. Until next time (when I hope I have this fixed...!), happy stamping and scrapping! Blessings, Sharon

Which will they wear...?

Once upon a time...I made nametags for a Bible study group I was in...since then, well, I am often asked to do more! And I do-when I can. Yesterday Wendy asked me to make nametags for the 3 women who would be selling her cd's at a Christian concert to be held in Southport, NC on Sunday, July 5th. She asked for "something patriotic". Well, this is what the creative muse in me made...which will they wear? Which one is your favorite?!

I also volunteered myself to make muffins for the chicken dinner & bake sale that our church is having on the 4th. YUM! I had fun yesterday getting some things to help spruce up the packaging of my muffins and hopefully boost sales. Everyone raves over my secret recipe so I feel pretty confident about that aspect of it! I will post those next week.

For those of you taking my scrapbook challenge, you've probably noticed that I've not posted the album cover yet---well, I am a wee bit behind. I'm learning to deal with some (pain) limitations due to fibromyalgia---and anyone out there who has words of wisdom to share on that subject-PLEASE DO--I am all ears! We've also been dealing with yet another sick kitty-awaiting biopsy results which should be in today. Back to the cover- I will (do it!) and post it soon---the idea in my head didn't look right when I laid it out but I picked up some embellishments that I think will do the trick. Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon

ps/To the person whose comment I "rejected"-I was simply unable to translate it via Google. My apologies...

More Blog Candy...!

Don't know about you...but I seriously need a little perking up today---just dreaming about blog candy helps---and doesn't mean more time on the treadmill! So check out the blog
below...Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Sharon http://paperaddictcatherine.blogspot.com/2009/06/alter-ego-blog-candy-give-away.html

BLOG CANDY ALERT!

A drawing for a BIND IT ALL & COILS...and a very cute popcorn-themed album (among other delightful & delicious things...) can be found at http://papercraftpleasures.blogspot.com/. Check it out--I'd wish you luck but, hey, this is one of the (probably) few tools I don't have! lol! Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon

Another One...?!

Ok---last one---I promise! It's all Roxy's fault for getting me hooked from her post! I've lost count of how many of these I've made---but our first wedding anniversary is tomorrow and I wanted to make something special for my husband. This is what I came up with. The brads and knotted twine give it some embellishment without being "too girly"! While we didn't chance the weather and have a beach wedding, our fabulous photographer Joel Riebert (Hi Joel!) graciously followed us and our family to the beach to get photos there as well. It was a very small but very meaningful service & ceremony...the focus was really on what we were promising one another before God. Brook cried when I first read him the words to God Bless the Broken Road (and that was the same evening we picked out our wedding rings)--so that was/is "our song".

Ok--enough sentimental journey-ing or I'll have you here all day! I used the Stampin' Up Top Note die I got from my favorite SU Demonstrator (who was also my matron of honor and photographer as well...) Theresa...

I cut out the die note in the blue green paper, then laid it over the white and cut to form the background. Then, using the SU what I call "slitty punch", I lined it up with the 4 curves and punched slits that work as photo corners! I added the brads to give it some zing. I like the look, it's super simple, and I foresee some photo books coming out of this trick. In case you're wondering...I did not use any CTMH products...I really didn't do any stamping-other than the envelope. But if you are interested in the Stampin' Up products (and I have used both the die and the punch A LOT!) please contact Theresa.
That's it for today. Our youngest son is here to visit so a long boat ride and picnic dinner is in the works. Tomorrow my husband gives the message at our 8:15 church service and I am sure the rest of the day will be spent much like this one!
Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping!
Blessings, Sharon

A Trick of the Trade...

Yes, I know...it's another one of THOSE cards...! I am hooked, can you tell?! Lol! This is for a couple who renewed their wedding vows Sunday during our church service-a wonderful couple (Edward & Barbara) who play and sing with our Praise Band. I wanted to send them a little something & this is what I came up with. We live at the beach so the beach theme seemed appropriate--and I wanted the two chairs side by side. But what do ya do when...the stamp only goes in one direction (see the chair on the left...) Well, for me, I decided to take a nap & think about it later-at least that was my plan! My mind kept wandering back to the card while I was trying to nap...and suddenly the answer came...

If I stamp the image on vellum (using Staz On ink-that's important!), and then flip the vellum over and stamp the same image...I will get the reverse image I want (see chair on the right!)
Go me! I really felt smart when Theresa said she didn't know that trick (she added she doesn't use vellum much, either...) Anyway...you simply cannot tell that one image is on one side and one on the other! It looks normal! Since I didn't have vellum tape (tape that "disappears" under the clear vellum) I simply attached the vellum to the cardstock using brads. I also didn't know that...vellum will score very nicely--so I was able to gently score it without getting the white lines (heavier hand scoring = white lines). You can do all kinds of things with vellum-run it through the cuttlebug and emboss it, stamp on it, put it over photos to "soften" them...so-go get some vellum and play around with it. You'll love it--and I just about doubled my stamp collection now that I know about vellum and reverse imaging! Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping! Blessings, Sharon

The Girl Version of the Grad Card...

Happy Saturday! At least I hope it was for YOU! For me...the gremlins were in the craft room yet again! I am ashamed to tell you how long it took me to put this card together! Sometimes things just don't work out. Then, while Theresa's computer seems to be sending her pics into computer never-never land, mine seems to be blurring every shot--NOT GOOD--as I took pics yesterday of Maren's school play - Peter Pan-and "graduation". Sigh. So these pics aren't any better than those. I apologize. It's the same layout as the "guy" graduation card---and a lot of the same colors (blue and green). I swapped the green background for bright yellow...added flowers, dots, crystals and bows! I used the same

Boutique Alphabet by Close to My Heart--and, if I had ordered the matching # set, I would've added an

"09" to this card. Oh well...I may want it all--but can't afford it all (at least not all at once! lol!) I think this week I will make an anniversary card for my hubby (can't believe its almost been a whole year...!) out of this same layout/design! It's just too versitle. Will incorporate some photos of us from our dating days to our wedding...hmmm! Stay tuned...

Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping! Blessings, Sharon

ps/For those of you taking my scrapbook challenge, tomorrow I hope to work on the cover of my album! ; )

Something New...

So...last year when I signed up to be a Close to my Heart consultant, in the kit I received was a beautiful linen Hollyhock colored 12x12 album. Having a real "girly-girl" in my life (alias Maren) who at one time LOVED pink (now she tells me orange is her favorite color-but we won't go there!), I thought "ohhh-perfect! I will do an album all about Maren." Well, fast forward about 8 months and I am just now getting around to thinking about really doing something with it (gee-doesn't it take 9 for babies to be born?! maybe its the same with some ideas? lol!)

All that said, I just had what I think is a brilliant idea. Since I am just starting this project, and a number of my friends have been struggling with doing albums of their own, as I work on this project I will post the photos and "recipes" for the pages as I go. I will, of course, be "showcasing" the Close to My Heart products (I will list them at the end of each post). Now, if I were as smart as one of my customers (hi Sharon B.who orders all the coordinating things for her projects at one time--) I would already have everything I need to complete the cover. But...I don't. I will have to wait on the order I just placed : ( --but, while I/we wait, let me tell you about the SOMETHING NEW I tried...it is the STICKSTOCK ADHESIVE BACKED SHEETS. It comes in twill or linen (I chose linen), they have adhesive backing so you just peel and stick... but the best part is...they are printer-friendly! I took the photo of Maren and, using Microsoft Publisher, set it into an oval shape and then just printed it out. I did hold the paper firmly until I felt the printer "grab" it (the back is slick). I will trim this out, attach it to my album, add the embellishments and abracadabra the cover will be done! I can see so many ideas for using the linen and twill---tags, photos, trims...it will give a nice little bit of texture in a not-so-traditional sticker format! Whoo-hoo! Am I excited! Think Christmas cards with a cute little sentiment stamped on it?! But I digress---back to Maren's book...

While I wait for my order to finish my cover, I will continue rounding up all my photos of her, put them in chronological order, and then place those into page protectors. This way all my photos are in one place, in order, and I can easily view a # at a time because I will use the CTMH pages that hold 6 pics to a page! ; ) Well, I'd better get to it! Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping! Blessings, Sharon

Products used for Album cover: 12x12 Linen Album (Hollyhock/Item #Z1201,pg.7, $ 27.95; StickStock Adhesive Backed Sheets (Linen/Item # X1400/$ 8.95 for pkg. of 3 size 8 1/2x12 1/2 sheets); Just Blooms Big Pinks (Flowers/Item #Z1033/16 flowers, 5 sizes, $ 7.95); Clear Sparkles (Item #Z1104/72 sparkles, variety pkg., $ 2.95; Dimensional Elements Monogram "M" (not shown/on order!/Item # Z1067, $3.25 multiple size letters on 9x6" sheet); Flower Trim by Wrights purchased at AC Moore; and of course...pop dots (not shown/AC Moore).