Sorry...

...that it's been a WEEK since I posted---but then I can count on one hand the # of people I know of that actually read my blog...sigh. Anyway, I have been sick this week but I've had some time to myself tonight and wowzer...I've worked my fingers to the bone and had a BLAST...of course tomorrow I get to clean up-ugh. Anyway---I will be posting some new projects to hang in there with me one more day. Until next time, happy scrapping and stamping. Blessings, Sharon

OHMYGOSH!

OHMYGOSH---I can't believe it! Judy from Artistry in Southport e-mailed and said that they opened yesterday afternoon and the first thing that they sold...was the flip flop book I made!

My paper art sold! WOW. I am so excited. Thank you to my friend Andrea who introduced me to Judy and Susan, to Theresa for taking the class with me that I based that idea on and, last but not least, to Judy and Susan for the opportunity to place my work with them. Ok-so that sounds like an Academy Award speech or something! Lol! My low self-esteem took a big jump for the better with that news! I'd better refill the coffee cup and start brainstorming ideas while I work on the housework I need to get done--before I can clean to craft table and start again (my husband hasn't complained-yet! But its getting on my nerves so I know its bad!) Thanks for letting me brag. If you're a local-stop by the Southport Village of Shops and visit Artistry---they did a wonderful job decorating and displaying a lot of artists work...Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping.
Blessings, Sharon
dp-unknown;stamped images by inkadinkado, catslife press, hero arts

Yesterday...Part Two...

Before I share another project, I wanted to share the close-ups of the tags from the "Relax" book from yesterday. And, I have to admit, with all I had on my agenda to do---I even squeaked in an extra errand, a few phone calls AND had time to put my feet up and relax a bit! Go me (the fact that my husband went to visit our youngest son may have had a wee bit to do with it, too! lol!) Oh-and the white mesh on the "E" tag---that's actually carpet underlay gripping stuff that I found at a thrift store! Ya never know what might show up as an embellishment! : ) Anyway, without further ado, here are the tags. Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon

Can you tell...I am "stuck" (somehwat) on a theme here...? RELAXing? I am not practicing what I should be doing for ME---so maybe I am trying to subconciously remind myself and help it sink in....sigh.

I know---you cannot see the detail on the tags very well--I promise to post the individual shots of them later (I'll be late for my "real/other" job if I do it now--we hate blogger!). This dp has been in my "stash" forever and I absolutely love the collage look of it. I got it before StampWorks in Wilmington closed if that tells you anything! But, I finally decided I needed to use it and share it---The letters are stamped with Close To My Heart Cocoa ink on cork, and attached with copper and gold brads. The tags are held together with polka dot ribbon layered between tags. The embellishments are really fun--a star fish, a crab trying to make off with the "E", a silver flip-flop charm, a glass pebble, twine, mesh, and, although you can't see it, that's a piece of mica placed over the sentiment on the "X"--it says "You only live once, make it count" (from a CTMH set). I'd love to keep this piece and adorn one of our walls with it...or leave it on a nightstand in the guest room...but it will (hopefully) be up for sale in Southport this afternoon. It's hard sometimes to let my creations go--I try and give myself a few days to look at them, tweak them, photograph them and "prepare" myself. I know that sounds strange...but they are apart of the artist and we are putting them out there to bless others...hopefully. Well, gotta go. It's a busy day but I am going to try and practice what I preach as I go about it. I'll let you know how I do! Until next time, RELAX, and happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon

Sweet...

s...

My photography does not do this piece justice at all (but it is almost "dream time" and the lighting is not great, either)---and I am almost tempted to not post it at all. I finished two books today & then pulled out this piece of wall art that has been waiting almost a year or more for its embellishment & completion! The store where I got the paper has even gone out of business! Lol! These are large chipboard letters that I covered with dp (I want to say it is Wild Asparagus but am not 100% sure), then painstakingly cut out, covered with holographic embossing powder & the tulle at the bottom looks somewhat ethereal & cloud-like. The blue beads & copper wire add a touch of-well, something I obviously liked! This moon face is one of my all-time favorite stamps. It actually says "Moon Man" on it but since I just wanted the face...the other got cut out. Did I mention there really is a dragonfly (again a favorite!) on his face where I placed the charm?! I am not sure where this came from-it is not my usual style by all means but I like the way this piece turned out. So--until next time, happy stamping & scrapping...and SWEET DREAMS...Blessings, Sharon

Celebrate Friendship...

Good Saturday morning! At least I am pretending that it is! Can I say "it's my blog & can whine if I want too?" Well, I'm going to! I spent all day yesterday short of maybe an hour in the craft room--that, and the rain coming through, and my fibromyalgia is raging. Then, the best place for my photo shoots is...the counter in one of our bathrooms. My "assistant" (aka Inky-the four-footed feline sort...) decided he needed to help and, after checking out the model, decided to jump on the shelf...and from there I am not sure what he did other than knock the curtain rod off, almost landed in the toilet, did land on the trash can and went racing out of the room! I need a coffee refill, please and it's not even 8 AM! That, and I've uploaded photos at least 5 times now with Blogger kicking me off and losing them!!! grrrrrrrrr........!

I am celerating friendships, tho---and I am blessed to have too many to count and name! Thanks to each of them for the special gifts they bring & bless my life with!

I based this project on a similar one I did in a class I took some years back with THE Stamp Queen, Carolyn Hurst (Hi Carolyn!) in Winston-Salem. I used the Close to My Heart Silhouette Level 2 paper pack (spring catty, p. 37), Cocoa ink (summer catty, p. 10), Express Postage Set (summer catty, p. 79), as well as the large white flower from Just Blooms (summer catty, p. 93). All the rest were other companies (mainly Inkadinkado, Paper Bag Studies, Catslife Press and others). I have to confess-I ordered this particular paper pack by accident--and wondered what in the world I would do with it. Well, once I started working with it, I just loved the stark black against the warm creams and white! There was even one or maybe two designs in the pack I didn't use! I am going to stop chatting and just post the pics...there are a lot of them- this is really a multiple page book--not "just a card"! Hope you enjoy it! Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping.

Blessings, Sharon