My Recipes...

So, like me, you've probably been drooling over the new "ingredients" in the Summer Close to My Heart Catalog. The good news is--I went to the "grocery store" and have something I whipped up to show you! From aisle---uh, page 94 I scooped up the MY CREATIONS RECIPE BOX. This is a sturdy, good-sized box that comes just waiting to be "iced"! It's perfect for recipes---and I chose the new CTMH CHERRY-O Papers to do just that. I first attached the red stripe to the base of the box and then covered that layer with a layer of the cherry pattern. I printed the "My Recipes" on the red striped paper for the flap and, I have to confess, I used some back gingham paper (source unknown) as well as several stamps from the Taylored Expressions set called Berries & Cherries. Of course...I used Pop-Dots on the layered circle as well as Liquid Glass on the cherries to make them really "pop". U added red rick rack (again, source-other than ACM or Michaels-unknown.) I think it makes a great addition to my red and white kitchen. Add the recipe cards found on page 32 and this would make a great wedding shower gift--just ask each guest to fill out a recipe card and bring it for the bride-to-be. Instant great menu! One of my stamping groupies, also named Sharon, suggested it would be a great way to keep track of addresses for wedding---just use different papers and appropriate themed stamps! So the smorgasbord is HUGE for this new little gizmo! Have fun and, until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings. Sharon

Put Your Sunglasses On!

First, my apologies to Christine and Buck-these photographs do not do their stamps justice! The weather here today is cloudy so no chance of good lighting for photos! The colors in these cards though are really, hot pink, orange, lime green and a teal color and the patterns, along with the colors, to me anyway, just SHOUT 1960's-1970's (although I barely remember those years-being a mere child of 10 at the latter! Lol!) I used Artful Legacy stamp Amy and Friends (SKU AF 11 M) for the image on the front. Let me back up and say—I tried what’s called Joy Fold cards for the first time–and I am in love! If you want a "knock your socks off-easy peasy card" this my friends, is it! I used two different sentiments and altered the sizes as well. The AL "Be kind to strangers" stamp (SKU ALS 1671) on one and "By Being Yourself" (SKU ALS 1265 I) on the other. On the "by being yourself" card, I added a polka-dot that you can slip the front image behind to display the card with the image and sentiment together! And, by simply receiving a card from the OKI Stampqueen-who wouldn’t! (Lol! I really suffer from low self-esteem!) Speaking of "made by who", I also stamped the back with the "Hand Stamped by Me & My Cat" stamp (SKU ALS 1089 D) as well as the (large) Black Cat (SKU AL 390 H) who, while is the next-to-smallest cat in our household, is, indeed, all black!). I am very seldom alone in my craft room-one of three cats (this varies, however, on the dispensation of treats!) is usually in there with me. Today, Inky decided to keep me company but scooted out before I could snap his picture. He was napping in the sort-this-paper box!
I hope you enjoyed today’s cards as much as I did making them! Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping! Blessings, Sharon

What I accomplished....

"I'm tired of cleaning, Momma-I think I need a nap!" so says the baby (aka Inky!) Lol. I had lots of help as you can see...first the baby, then Bad Cat decided the box of paper I was trying to sort was a good place to sit...and of course Poppa Cat had to come and check things out as well!

I did get a lot accomplished but I didn't finish.

I stopped to play! I have been in search of something to hold my embossing folders in my SU Doctor Bag. I wanted to keep them all together but didn't want something as big and bulky as the notebook Cuttlebug sells. Hmm...I tried a visor cd holder (too narrow), checked travel bags (everything too big), office supply (nothing quite right, either) and then I thought the CTMH recipe box would work-too small, too. But then as I was cleaning today, I eyed my CTMH 3-ring binder I just got---IT'S PERFECT! Almost. It will hold about 10-12 embossing folders. I made the "envelopes" to hold each one out of cardstock--I think that added a good bit of bulk but I also wanted durability. None of the papers are CTMH---stuff I've had forever in my stash. I covered it with clear contact as I knew traveling back and forth, handling, etc. it would get a fair amount of wear and tear. YES, THERESA-I actually made something WITHOUT USING even 1 POP-DOT! I am in shock, too! Lol. As I said, the enves are plain white cardstock and I run each one through the Big Shot with the folder its going to hold. I will (eventually) make labels for the enve tabs (which I ended up not "closing" after all-the enve itself is snug enough and even though Theresa and I put our heads together there was just no easy non-bulky way. I've set aside the rest of this paper so I can make the second book to hold the rest of my stash! I will simply divide them out into "backgrounds", "Florals and Frames" or some such. There's plenty of room in the bag for two!

Anyway-that's what I've been up to today. It's a good tired. Until next time, Happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon

photos: front, inside, back

yes, that's a library card stamped on the back of the enve (left side)---that way I can make a note if I want of projects that folder is good to use on or if I want to loan it out who it went to...

the right is the distressed stripes embossing folder by Cuttlebug---

It must be SPRING FEVER...

...but of a different sort!

Spring has sprung-my iris are blooming, the birds are singing (a mocking bird is particularly vocal this morning!), the sun is shining (or was)...and its SATURDAY---but yet, I am (majorly) out of sorts today. Maybe its the nesting thing---I want everything cleaned out, pared down and organized down to the bare necessities as of yesterday! I promised myself then, as I was once again cleaning off the kitchen table and bar from my latest stamping adventure (ie prepping for the next class I am teaching...) that I would get my craft room cleaned so I could actually work in there (as you can see, it needs it!). While I am tempted to start in the attic (while the weather is cool enough yet...) and work my way down, I am going to the craft room. No excuses. I can think of a number of things that can go right off. Who knows...a big yard sale sign may show up on its door before I am done! Maybe opening the windows, putting on some good music (hmm, John Paul Walters...) and storing and sorting will enhance my mood. If anyone else has any suggestions, PLEASE pass them on.

I do have new cherry paper and stamps so maybe I will sneak some play time in as a treat if I get some cleaning accomplished. Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping.

Blessings, Sharon

Wake Up and Smell the COFFEE!

Is there really life before COFFEE? I think not! I am a coffee lover. Some would say I like it semi-light and sweet. My cup...is huge! It looks very similar to Artful Legacy’s cup stamp (sku JB 138 L)! And that image was the perfect "blend" for the "Is there really life before coffee" sentiment (sku ALS 170 I). As I said in last week’s post-sometimes things work and sometimes they don’t! I thought pouring the coffee beans into the photo side and sealing them with Modge Podge would do the trick. Oh SO not! Lol. Plan B. Make the photo side into a shaker box! Yes, those are real coffee beans in there! I added the bow, button, bag of coffee, etc. and this just makes a cute little what-not to sit on my Hoosier in my kitchen! I enhanced the coffee in the cup with a

little Crystal Effects and brought out the "steam" with a blend of Martha Stewart glitter.
The card was quick(er!) and easy, and is pretty self-explanatory. Color dusted edges of the base, punched the oval and backed it with the sentiment, added the "embellies". The sentiment on the inside I simply printed from the computer. Now that my post is done, I think I will fix a REAL cup of java, put my feet up and admire my handiwork!

ps/for those of you who hung in through my entire post...here's a TIP I learned by reading the latest issue of Creating Keepsakes--I've loaned my copy to Theresa or I would give credit where credit is due--particularly for this tip as I think it's worth the price of the whole year's subscription. To clean ink-including Staz-On (and yes-this DOES WORK!) off acrylic blocks, wipe them off with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Now, I think most would know to use the "normal", non-scrubby ME--but, just in case-I will say it-use the non-scrubby/abrasive ME. It magically removes the ink. Even dried on ink. Even dried on for years ink! Lol. My blocks are now ink-free. I wish I had learned this trick before I used even a wet abrasive cleanser on them --oh well. Oh-and for this part of the tip I will take credit. Take the ME and cut it into smaller pieces--you only need a small piece to clean blocks at one stamping session and then you can toss it out! More bang for your buck ; )

I woke up to...

BOOGERS!!!
Well, that's what they LOOK LIKE anyway! (It's actually more green than what's showing up in the photograph-the flash washes it out!) I have to laugh! Just have to! What is this--mess--really?! Well, remember earlier this week when I said sometimes its about what works and what doesn't? This is, obviously, a "what doesn't" or for those of you who prefer that the cup is half-full-a what-does-gone-wrong! So--my theme for this week's Artful Legacy DT project is---no, now stop it-it is NOT boogers-now you are being gross!---it's COFFEE. And I found these great word frames-like the "friends" and "laugh" in the previous post...and I wanted to fill the photo part with duh-coffee beans. And what would one think of first to use to hold them in there? Modge Podge, of course. So I got a new jar of the glossy last evening when I went to get the frame. The beans have a "shine" to them to I figured once it dried clear, all would be well. I put in a layer of MP, put some beans in. It wasn't holding some of them so I poured MP over the top as well, working it around and down and in and...When I went to bed last night it was drying nicely. I was even able to finish decorating the rest of the frame around that part so I felt really good about it. And then I woke up to this. Evidently...in some spots there was too much MP, and the beans "seeped" some color, and they turned the MP this awful shade of yellow-green!!! If it were even a coffee color---I could work with that. But really, it is snotty yellow-green bugger color. So now I get to...try and take some huge patches out and maybe hot-glue beans in or scoop out the entire mess and start over...maybe using hot glue instead. See, MC, it doesn't ALWAYS go right in my Craft Kingdom and I cannot seem to find anyone to fix my magic wand right! Sigh. Theresa may come over and play today and hubby comes home tonight...so better go do a little housework before I tackle the bean project. Wonder if I gave it a little Sudafed...?! Just kidding. Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon