Yesterday's Project...

Good Sunday morning! While I still won't reveal what Theresa taught me yesterday afternoon, I wanted to show you the card I made thanks to Roxy's post (see link under my fav blogs). I missed the best light for photos this am and these look washed out and a tad blurry. Sorry about that! I didn't want to do a "traditional" graduation card -- so I opted for the bright spring greens and blues for new growth...new endeavors... The large letters on either side are from the Close to My Heart Boutique Alphabet set and I absolutely love them! They are just the right size to make cards and pages "pop" and each letter has a different texture pattern to it! I used several other CTMH sets for the other words, and of course CTMH inks as well. Didjaknow...someone came up with a list of how to set your printer to match the CTMH ink colors? Thanks to that brilliant person I was able to match my computer-generated message in the center to the ink colors on the rest of my card! Way cool. Let me know if you would like a copy of the list and I will send it to you. Hope you take time out to enjoy this beautiful day (we watched baby martins being fed and cared for this morning and will head to church in a bit...) and, until next time, happy stamping and scrapping! Blessings, Sharon

I TOOK A CLASS... : )

...but I am NOT telling what we did! I am hoping Theresa will do a class herself on it. I was going stir-crazy after being sick yesterday--and instead of a shopping spree, we decided to get together to play. I went to her house and we worked in her newly-expanded art studio! It was very nice. She had a project all lined up, all the tools and papers out and ready and we just stamped the afternoon away. And, considering I spent the morning doing the exact same thing (I will post Matthew's graduation card later...), I would say it was a PRETTY GOOD DAY!

How 'bout you? Did you take time out to play? If not, it's still not too late...go make something sweet. Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon

Whew!

That's the way I felt having survived the Memorial Day week-end! It seemed every project I tried to tackle (including cleaning my "magic kingdom") went wrong. This was a quickie card I put together for one of my customers. She just finished hosting an out-of-town family reunion/wedding celebration...and the inside says
"You survived!" At least I hope she did! Lol.This lady is one of my favorite stamp images (Art Impressions) and I used her on a birthday card that PaperCrafts selected as a winner in their Birthday Bash contest a few years back. Other stamps are from Close to My Heart: The large "W" is from an awesome set called Boutique Alphabet (Summer Catty/pg.84/$34.95 set of 37 stamps) These are large stamps and each letter has a different pattern or texture! The smaller letters are from the Chocolate Alphabet Set (SC/pg.85/$22.95 set of 74 stamps). The circles are from the Dream Wishes Set (Spring Catty/pg. 18/22.95 set of 18 stamps). The inks are Sweet Leaf and Crystal Blue (SC/pg.11/$5.25). This is a poor photo---but I actually popped up the ribbon (did I mention my LOVE for pop dots?!) and then double-popped (even better!) the "W". Extra pop-dots usually mean extra postage, but I just can't help myself! Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping! Blessings, Sharon

Can you guess?!

While I have to admit I really like last week's card better (ya can't help but love a pig!)...this one isn't bad for creativity, either! Can you guess what this card is for? Why the "new" and "improved" on the front? I'll give you a clue...take a look at what the arrows are pointing to... Did I hear you say...her knees? If so, you got it! You won the prize (whatever that might be! Just kidding). This card is for my friend, Beverly, who just had DOUBLE knee-replacement surgery! She is also a red hatter (hence the red and purple colors) and a strong Christian...so the inside says "I hope you are back on your knees in no time"--get it? Christian...pray-er....knees... Ok-so I am stretching it today! Nothing seemed to go right in the craft room world for me today (even cleaning I spilled my coffee everywhere...) and some days are just like that! I did use two Close to My Heart sets on this--- The circles are from the DREAM WISHES SET (pg. 18/Spring 2009 catalog) and woman is from the May stamp of the month set (Be Yourself/no longer available). Of course I HAD to use my Top Note Die and my Big Shot (e-mail Theresa for yours!). Go make something---but before you do, if you've been here (aka my blog...) please let me know...some days I feel I am out here all alone! Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping! Blessings, Sharon

You make me SMILE!

There's a very nice lady at church I have been getting to know--they live on a small "farm" with cats, horses...and a stray pig that adopted them! She was SO EXCITED when Brook asked if we could come and see the pig. We've yet to coordinate times, but she's since invited me to bring my goddaughter, Maren, and Theresa and her daughter, TT! How sweet of her! So I decided to take some time to PLAY today...and three hours later...this is what I came up with! The barn doors are all cut out at the top, the sentiment is stamped on the inside (right) panel

and the spider webs are stamped with Staz

-On ink on

transparency and layered into the card! On the inside, well...take a

look... there's a whole slew of animals helping to hold the pig up so he can see! Friends are like that...they hold us up when times are tough and we need someone to make us smile! So, thank you, Tanya! I cannot wait to come and meet your pig! And I thank you for being my friend! Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon

Birthday Wishes from a "Festive" Kitty...

Since I seriously doubt my 20+ year old stepson checks my blog, I think it's safe to post his birthday card even though it's a few days early! Since I have almost exhausted his favorite theme (surfing), I was stumped what to do. Of our three cats, "Poppa Cat" is by far his favorite...so why not a "festive" kitty to celebrate?! I used a photo of PC, a clip-art birthday hat complete with fibers, and the stamped images (celebrate, party on, balloon (the string says "let's party!) are all from Close to My Heart's February special "Good Times" set that I got for free! Again, boasting about the clear stamps and blocks, I was able to make the "Party On!" border using them

because I could actually see where I needed to stamp next as opposed to wood stamps where you can only "guess" where your placement should be. I also used what CTMH calls the "Block Buddies" (pg. 56 of the summer catalog, item Z1289, $ 4.95) to make sure my words were placed straight on the block. Block Buddies are clear grids that stick to your blocks (easily removable/reusable) that allow you to line up letters, words and shapes! I love them and simply leave them on my blocks which I store in the Block Organizer (pg. 104, item Z185, $22.95/blocks sold seperately on pg. 56). Having the blocks stored this way, I can quickly "eyeball" what size block I need for the stamp I want to use--no fumbling around in a basket to find one! So---just in case you are looking, Happy Birthday, James! Hope you like your card and have a GREAT birthday! For everyone else, just call, e-mail or leave a comment if you'd like a catalog of more great CTMH products and, until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon

Busy as a Bee with my Big Shot!

I cannot begin to tell you how much FUN-or how many cards-I have made in the last week or so using my new Big Shot and the SU Top Note Die! You have GOT to have this! It is so versatile and neat. The first pic is a little "purse" I made-I didn't create it-found it on some one's blog (sorry-don't remember whose!)--and wanted to do something for Theresa for letting me vent to her after my dr. visit (some drs. are just "practicing")--so this is what I did. The purse was just big enough to hold a card (it, too, made out of the die cut) and a small package of stamps. It's too cute. For a little girls party favor...just a thinking of you...tuck a tea bag in...the possibilities are endless! Then on another card, rather than using the die cut itself, I used the "frame" it created. It really set off the bird scene that I embossed on vellum-again using the Big Shot to emboss with. Just too cool. Did I mention I whipped out 15 luncheon invitations using this same die? In less than an hour they were printed, cut and stamped-and DONE--and made a huge impression on my customer?! So---stop what you're doing and go e-mail Theresa (kraftitee@aol.com) and have her order your Big Shot and Top Note die today. Ladies, it is worth it!!!
Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon