MIA...

again. Sorry---this time it's ME that's been sick! Been in bed or on the couch since Thursday. I felt awful still this morning but it seems to have taken a turn for the better as the day wore on. Maybe tomorrow I can actually DO some of the 1,001 things left to do before Christmas! Until then, take a peek at www.crafteebee.blogspot.com. I happened to find it through another site--but she has some really pretty things! Some easy-peasy use one-stamp and some trim and it looks awesome things! I need those quick and easy right now! I have a cat (black!) curled in my lap right now-they've stuck close while I've been sick--kinda nice-kept cold feet warm, good company--they even let me share the bed during the day (they think our bed is actually THEIR bed!) Have a good one. Until next time, happy stamping and a----achooo--scrapping. Blessings, Sharon

Ok--so here's the thing I shouldda known...

...and I can't help but laugh at myself ---NOW!!! If you've been in any of our classes, you've heard us talk about and have maybe even used the trick of putting a mouse pad under the paper you plan to use to stamp that large image on. If you've not been in one of our classes, you might be shaking your head and saying "huh?"--so let me explain.

I first learned this trick from Marion who worked way back when at Stamp Works in Wilmington. I was a "newbie" stamper then. She taught me that, if you have a stamp that is a large image, if you will place a mouse pad under your paper and then stamp, the mouse pad will "fill in" any inconsistencies in the table top and you will get your full image stamped. Tables and things are not always perfectly flat as we would like to think. So if you've ever stamped an image and gotten half of it--well, maybe this was the reason. Now...fast forward a few gazzillion years. Saturday I was stamping Christmas cards. I was not using a large stamp at all but for some reason...my images were not fully stamping out. I got out the mouse pad. No help. I moved the mouse pad to the left, right, up, down---still no better. Geez-it wasn't a big stamp---what's the deal. Then, and only as a last resort....i moved the stamp PAD. I had the pad on the table and was just pressing the stamp down into it and then stamping (sometimes I lift the pad and ink the stamp in my hand...) Well, evidently it wasn't my paper but my pad that was on an uneven spot-therefore the stamp wasn't inking properly and my images weren't coming out. DUH!!! I felt like an idiot. But at least I learned something new.

So-that's my tip for the day. Gonna go catch 10 minz. of z's before I have to get ready for work. Feeling a little rough around the edges today. Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon

Believe...

Whew! I made it!!! Yes, well, the card, too! No, I'm sighing because I made it to the post office-and back!-with ten minutes til closing time! I had promised my friend, Andrea, I would make and mail two gift card holder cards by Saturday---last Saturday. As you know...I ended up spending my crafting time to and fro-ing from the vet's office...hence the cards didn't get made until today! But I did it! This was one of those (I confess!) grab it and throw it together---but I really like the way it turned out. Theresa had this Santa image and I absolutely fell in love with it. I had to have it--and got it! It's a hard to find vintage one but it is also a favorite already! I stamped with Olive CTMH ink on white, distressed the edges of the dp (not sure whose it is!), and glittered the "Believe" (again, CTMH stamp set). Wanna EASY-PEASY way to do glitter on solid pieces like the letters? Run them upside down through a Xyron sticker maker or full-size machine-sprinkle on the glitter...give it a good rub and whala! Instant glittered object! ; )

The die cut arrow gift card holder insert is called "Look Here" from SU--call Theresa to order yours! I love it love it love it!!! So my card says (outside) Believe then, on the inside, "..and you shall receive--Merry Christmas. I happen to know Andrea is going to enclose checks so I thought that sentiment was appropo! Since its obscene to have "naked mail", I stamped the Santa face just off the left side of the enve! I can't wait to use this one some more!!!

Well, I am exhausted, haven't done the first bit of housework, have glitter on my face, and the cats are complaining that its past time to eat. I'd better get back to it! Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping! Blessings, Sharon

COMING SOON---my Christmas card; gingerbread ornaments sure to bring a giggle; my Jan. CTMH special offer...and who knows what else---oh, a tip--something a seasoned stamper probably should've known...and didn't!

Tropical vs. "Traditional"

My customer, Margarett, called me sometime ago and was all excited because she had designed her Christmas card for this year..."I want bright pink and green and palm trees and flamingoes....!" Uh-huh. O-----k....I'll see what I can do! Well, it wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it was going to be! Her other request was that since she would be staying in a different house than the one she usually winters in in FL, she wanted a card with contact information on it.

Theresa and I made a trip to a scrapbook store in

Myrtle Beach and I saw these great stickers---but that was, by far, too costly an option for 30 cards! I did buy them, however, and came home and contacted the wonderful people at 7 Kids College Fund. She got me the rubber stamps as well as the designer paper (Kaiser Kraft). Flamingoes, and, if not palm trees per se, at least tropical looking leaves! The solid papers and inks are Close to My heart. The "Merry" stamp is from a set by Autumn Leaves (a rhonna christmas card by rhonna farrer). The polka dot ribbon we (Theresa and I) found on another trip to Myrtle Beach---added the green crystal from the package from the $ bin at Michaels and the front was done!

I knew EXACTLY what I was doing for the inside...the die cut is from Stampin' Up and is called "Look Here." It is designed to hold a gift card or, as you can see, a small roll-a-dex card! : ) and I punched said card with the SU roll-a-dex punch to make it look authentic. The "real" card has a little pink circle punchie that says "Memories last forever" on it. Margarett also wanted to include a photo, so that (wallet-size) is tucked behind the card. The pink flowers in her hat match the pink cardstock perfectly!!! There's a sand castle stamped behind the top cut out...to coordinate with the sentiment that says:
From my sand castle to yours...May you have a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a MAGNIFICENT NEW YEAR! The Postcard, punchies, etc. are from CTMH Vintage Postcard set. The postcard pulls out so she has room to write on the back of it! She was somewhat skeptical as I put the card together entirely without her seeing any of it---I just told her she would love it! And she did!!! Said she may not ever do a card again-didn't know how we would top this one!

Well, after spending Fri all day at the vets, with not one but two cats, they appear to be on the mend. Momma, on the other hand, is in quite a bit of pain from fibromyalgia (toting them, the weather and too much to do....). So say a prayer, please, that I feel better and can swap this "BAH HUMBUG" mood for something a little more festive!

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

Something...

...is better than nothing! I guess...?! I am in such a "BAH-HUMBUG" mood this year. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that the merchants starting pushing Christmas well before Thanksgiving (even before Halloween in some places!)...and it seems to drag on forever. I lost the TRUE SPIRIT of the season before it ever really got started! Anyway...I have been working on Christmas cards for a customer that, if I do say so myself, are awesome. I know-I promised pics of those and haven't done it. She called me yesterday and said, "I doubt I will ever do another Christmas card-this one is just too awesome!" Made me feel good--and bad! Lol. Anyway, I finally asked the "keeper of the list" (ie our Christmas card list...) how many we needed...he told me there were 90 on the list but we only need 50 cards! Ok then. So had I designed any? No! Do I have papers? No. Do I have any place remotely close to get papers? Three guesses...! So, the card is simple simple simple (with the exception of getting a clear and perfect image stamped on the front (large post card size...!) Even with the mat trick, it's difficult at best. And I know there is something so very simple that I can do to spruce this up---but I don't want to call Theresa this early! It needs just a little something to make it "pop". Ideally, I would layer some dark green behind the white, but that is not an option. What do you think...?! It is an easel card---and I opted to make it so that if the recipient wanted to display it the signature would be on the "inside" easel part and not the outside. Well, I need to go get a few things done before heading out to my real job...Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping! Blessings, Sharon

MIA...

Ok---so the photos of the Christmas cards I've been working on today...won't upload...So they will have to wait until another day. I've been MIA this week...dealing once again with a sick kitty. It all started Thanksgiving....with vomiting. That stopped...then he stopped...eating, drinking, not wanting play with Poppa Cat...so off to Dr. Travis we went. She gave him some meds, ran some tests--chalked it up like I had to stress more or less (my husband had been out of town...) but by Thurs. nothing had improved. So back we went. This time she opted to sedate him and do an exam and x-ray. She was puzzled. Turns out grass and hair don't digest well...and formed a solid mass inside this little guy. I'll spare the details. Back home with more meds, a week-end of treatment and he's still not a happy camper...so that means Momma isn't a happy camper and back we'll go tomorrow. As if that's not bad enough, Inky clawed Poppa Cat in the eye (we think) batting at him because he was sick and did not want to play---so now PC's eye is weeping like crazy. Naturally, the stuff I have on hand isn't working. Wonder if we get a family rate? The staff will not be happy to see PC's name on the schedule, either, as he's by far the worst patient of the 3 (Inky comes in second with, believe it or not, Bad Cat being the best! Go figure!)

For a great quick project-go check out the stamp goddess' blog-Fabulously Artsy and watch her video on Bagalopes---its too funny---and a great idea! I tried one of these---will be making lots more--thinking Valentine's Day, Halloween...! She does great videos! Me-I am off for a rum drink, hot shower, bed and a good book. If I'm lucky, one of the 3 cats will warm up my feet! Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon