WE were picked!!!

The "Dynamic (Stamping & Scrapbooking) Duo" from OKI/Southport are now members of Artful Legacy's FIRST DESIGN TEAM!!!! OHMYGOSH---I am SO EXCITED I can hardly type--and I woke up poor Theresa (et al) at 9 AM this morning (at least I decided to sleep late-there are mornings I am up at 4:30 AM or so!) Anyway---Once Upon a Time...There was a stamp and scrapbooking store just outside of Myrtle Beach called Artful Legacy. The bad news was...they decided to close...the GOOD NEWS is...they decided to maintain an on-line store for stamps and supplies. They feature their own stamp line designs and have an awesome selection! They put a call out a few weeks back for applicants for their FIRST DESIGN TEAM. I waited until practically the last minute but went for it. The announcement for the 4 team members was to be made on Monday (this coming-see, so excited I can't think straight). When I had a message this AM from Artful Legacy, my heart almost stopped. No, I bet I didn't make it. I hesitated opening it then, took a big swig of coffee and did. I made it!!! I squealed and scared the cats half to death! I couldn't believe it! My next thought was, "but wait---what about Theresa?!" She does better work than I do (I think!)---what if...but THERE WAS HER NAME, TOO! This is what Christine had to say:

Hi Sharon,
Yes I remember you. I really like your work and your blog! We really like what you did with the chairs - very clever - I would of never thought to do that! We would like to also welcome you as a member of our First Ever Design Team - Congratulations!!
We will get some stamps off to you so you can go to work! I am so excited!!! I think this is going to be a really great Journey for all of us.
If you would like to take at look at our stamps and pick out a few to get started that would be great. http://www.artfullegacy.com/ If not we will send you something for St, Patrick's and Easter/
The following are Artful Legacy Design Team Members: Congratulations Everyone

Betty Podell: http://justsometablescraps.blogspot.com/

Becky Allen :http://www.stampingwithkathie.com/. Becky will be taking over Katie's blog soon

Theresa Forge blog: http://artful-whimsies.blogspot.com/
and splitcoast site: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=166156

Sharon Russell: http://www.okistampqueen.blogspot.com/.

Amanda Brazelton: Does not have a blog yet amandaebrazelton@live.com

Jessica Altman: http://stampinwithjessica.blogspot.com/
Have A Blessed Day
Christine & Buck
our new blog:
- Congratulations!!
our new blog: http://artfulrxpressions.blogspot.com/

The stamped image in the middle of the card at the top-the chairs and sea oats, are from Artful Legacy. What Christine refers to in her e-mail was my comment that I wanted two chairs facing each other-not side by side. What to do? There is such a thing as a blank mirror image stamp-you are supposed to be able to stamp your image, stamp it on the blank stamp, and then stamp that image to give you a mirrored image...it works, but isn't the greatest. Then I had one of my (few!) brainstorms-stamp on vellum! So i stamped one chair on the front of the vellum (with Staz-On ink), flipped my paper over, and stamped the second chair on the back--whalla! Mirrored-image chairs! Here are the other two samples I submitted:

Now I am off to go check out the other winners blogs, and see what stamps I would like to work with. I suggest you do some blog-hopping as well (Saturday's are good for that! ; ) Take some time to look and see what Artful Legacy has to offer. It will be time well spent! Christine and Buck, THANK YOU for this opportunity! I will do my best to do you proud! Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping! Blessings, Sharon

Part of a card...

There's really a (good) reason I am only showing you part of a card but I am not going to go into it! TT's (short for "Theresa (too) 2") Sweet 16th birthday was Tuesday. I am late (as usual)...and her card still isn't done! Oh well. It's the thought that counts, right? And she'll get to celebrate a little longer. Here is a close up of the cake. It is from Close to My Heart's stamp of the month (February) set which is deliciously adorable! I ordered it on the 1st-or close to it-I just couldn't wait! Lol. This is part of what's called a "side step card"--some of my previous posts show the whole card/concept-for now, here's the "step" part-and there's a great tutorial on Julie Davison's site (http://www.juliedavison.com/) that will tell you how. I made mine a bit bigger to accommodate the letters--and, I apologize, but I can't remember whose site the larger measurements were on or I would give credit where credit is due...anyway--what I used was 6"x12" paper-scored at 6". Then I made a cut 4" in from the left side, beginning 3" down and stopping 1" from the bottom. You then score on the 3", 6" 8", 10" and 11" inch marks and fold mountain, valley, mountain, etc. This will make more sense to you if you watch Julie's tutorial first! The cake--is colored with Sharpie's (I've not been blessed with Copics...yet...) and then the cake itself covered with Liquid Glass and covered with clear glitter. It was also embossed first with clear embossing powder (this helps the coloring --or should I say color-er...) to stay in the lines! Yes, there ARE 16 candles there--I layered some on the front and back of the panel and they, too were clear embossed and then stamped in color(s) (CTMH citrus leaf, crystal blue, watermelon and sunflower). The "Sweet 16" is from the CTMH Boutique Alphabet and Number set, stamped in watermelon, embossed and yes, Theresa, all cut out one by one (your daughter is a sweetheart!) The ribbon...was "leftover" from, believe it or not, a customer's Christmas card order! Lol. I believe it is Offray. Of course..there are lots of pop-dots to give it all dimension.

On another note...cats are said to be "great hunters". They will often bring whatever they have caught and lay it at your feet expecting you to say "good kitty" while you, um, are trying to smile and not loose your cookies to put it politely. While our guys are inside cats (except for our back deck where they can go out but not down--we're up on pilings...) they don't get to hunt. One of the kitten's favorite toys when he was, indeed, a kitten, was Squeaky Mouse. I could rattle this mouse (who squeaks) and the baby would come running and do anything I wanted. Well, while the fascination and cooperation has died back a bit as he's gotten older and perhaps wiser...he still plays with it from time to time. I noticed last evening and this am that the mouse was under the corner of the bathmat by the bathroom sink. Today...he is now sitting exactly in front of "The Throne"! I cracked up when I saw that! I think somebody wants or needs to hear a "good kitty" (perhaps it's the Bad Cat who lived up to his name after he got on the counter and decided to sample my husband's lunch-none other than tuna salad. I dare say there was more salad than tuna left! That BAD CAT!).
That's it for me today. I may finish her card...or not. There's always tomorrow, Scarlet! Gotta run some errands and clean up a bit. Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon

Used to be...

...Theresa and I could jump in the car and head to Wilmington to our favorite "local" scrapbook and stamp stores--or go a little further across the state line to one or two...for inspiration, classes with others including THE Stamp Queen...and drool over the newest fads and tools. Not so anymore. We spend our time on-line (my husband seems to continually comment on my time in front of the computer...) blog hopping, hoping for that same inspiration and wondering if what we see in tools, etc-really work. Sigh. I can't say...because of store closings our shopping costs have been cut---lol. I see it and well, sometimes just have to have it. Cute card on a blog? OH MY where did you get those stamps? New tool-I just ordered yet another one. My good angel said "well, we need to find out if it works-and share it--that's OUR job now..." the bad angel---lost so his argument and points are mute anyway! One of the stores we miss was in Myrtle Beach-called Artful Legacy. THE Stamp Queen came there-and we shopped there. Now they have an on-line store vs. the "brick and mortar"store as the stores of yesteryear are called. And a blog. It's just beginning and it's going to be fun to watch it grow. Theresa and I have both sent in samples to see if we can become part of their first Design Team. I know she will be picked without a doubt! Her work is awesome. Always has been, always will be. Me? Who knows?! And you won't know...unless you try! So check out www.artfullegacy.blogspot.com and see their samples, stamps and products. I also have to give a shout out to the very nice person who e-mailed me the layout instructions for the Life Delights Book. That was SO THOUGHTFUL. See-I asked--and I received. God loves to bless us...we just have to be open to it.

Time to get to the day-job! Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon

Happy SWEET 16, TT!

No, I don't have her card done---yet! It's in my head, tho! I know exactly what I want to do---when I have time to do it! This sweet, sweet gal---tags along with her mom amd I without complaint shopping literally until our legs are about to fall off. As long as we remember to feed her (preferably Wendy's or McD's) she's happy. She always has a hug and a smile for me. Is most appreciative of anything you do or give to her and keeps us laughing. I am so blessed to know her. So-happy birthday, TT from me and the cats...-your card might be late, but I am thinking about you on your special day!

So---I looked at the calendar---yowzers---our class is coming up quick and have I made and designed our project yet---?! Uh, NO! So... I pulled out one of my books that's been collecting dust on my shelf. I could cheat-I could take the Life Delights book, measure the papers and remake the same layouts with the new embellishments and papers. But--don't think that's fair to the gals who made that first one. So--I picked out new designs-got some GREAT ideas I want to try. Now ya'll can pray. Math is not my strong point! Figuring out how much of which papers I can use for what and have enough for the entire book/project...well, I'm worried. Maybe Theresa will take pity on me! When we did the first book, she helped me cut the kits and came up with a better way than CTMH did on their directions and we had more paper leftover to do some other things with. HINT HINT HINT! Lol.

I am really conflicted today then--I need to go to work and do the newsletter (kinda like scrapbooking on the computer...!), but I also want to stay home and do TT's card and work on the book! Sigh. Oh well. Better go to work--need the $ for shopping sprees with TT and Theresa-not to mention vet visits, trips to the pool (the relief from the pain lasted 3 whole days! I am impressed!) Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon

Keep it simple...

and I am adding "stupid!" after that for myself~! I learned something new yesterday...after I had sorted all my Close to My Heart sets on Saturday...and made catagory labels for each box, trying to decide how to file what...I was putting one or two "escapees" away when I looked at the little cover sheets in the envelopes. See those words above My Acrylix..."Sentiments", "Celebration"...it was one of those slap yourself upside the head, sister! moments. DUH!!!! They made it simple---they already catagorized them--why did I have to complicate it?! I confess-for whatever reason I pull my stamp sets out the minute I get them and flip them around-I like being able to see the entire set without the flap and snap in the way (it's just one of (many!) of my little quirks!), so I can't say I've ever really looked close at that sheet before! So---now I will go back and see how I should refile these! Luckily, I only made quick handwritten labels--the "fancy" ones were on the to-do list. And, speaking of to-do, if you scroll down... you'll see why my "to-do's" don't always "get done"! I pulled the baskets out, to sort things into, and look what happens...first the kitten (aka Inky, short for Inkadinkadoo...)

and then Bad Cat had to have a turn, too! I can't put things away for trying to keep cats out! Lol. Poppa Cat got in, too, but he comes right to me when he spies the camera so I just got his backside and tail as he hopped out! Gotta love these guys! Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon

Transformed the tape gun...

So here is the before picture...I got a whole roll of painter's tape and went to it! Lol. I had tons of tape on that tape gun--but---I also didn't get paint anyplace I didn't want it so it was worth it. I was skeptical about (not) having streaks and drips and overspray marks having to paint the inside and then the out...but it went on very smoothly, stuck, and dried well. I let it sit overnight to be on the safe side...

Then I pulled out the "bling"! I got two rub-ons that say "drama QUEEN"--I really don't think I exagerate the "drama" in my life-it just sort of follows and finds me! Theresa can vouch for that! Only me could have some of the crazy things that have happened, happen! At least we get some good laughs out of it! Anyway, I put the rub-ons on either side, and added the crystals one by one. I thought I had gotten-and maybe did get---the crystal "swirls"--but naturally, I could not find them when I needed them today so this was Plan B. I was not going to WM!

The little letters for my initials on the handle actually cover up the screws that hold this baby together! Not too shabby! I am happy with it -and that's what counts! I would certainly do it again and encourage anyone whose been afraid of trying it that it was really a piece of cake!Until next time (and I did have 2 other things I wanted to post but Blogger, as usual, is being a bugger and it's time for me to get ready for my real job....!)---happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon