New Year's Eve

Daughter is busy watching the Disney Channel, and I'm staying awake by reading blogs & SCS. Very excited to receive my order from I {heart} Papers today! My Labels 1 Nesties are here!! I used them right away for the sketch challenge on the Stamp Something blog.

I now own 4 Copic markers...slowly picked up at Hobby Lobby with the 40% off coupon. I now own a "skin tone" color and used it today, along with Bic Mark-it and Sharpie pens. The design paper is from Target $1 spot. It was in an eight pack of 12x12 paper. They also had coordinating gemstones & gemstone brads!!

Happy Crafting!
Sharon

Mojo #67

Made this card for Mojo Madness #67 on Poetic Artistry. The fairy panel is truly on straight, but it looks crooked in this picture. The blue ribbon is from a Webkinz tag! Daughter received several for Christmas, and when she cut this tag off, the ribbon was still long, and just the right length.

We had a "fairy luncheon" this summer when my Aunt Glenda visited, and this card is for her birthday. Image is Inkadinkado, design paper DCWV, base is spring moss from Papertrey Ink.

Oh yes...forgot to mention, our daughter woke us up at 3:15 am Christmas morning!! We let her open gifts with the stipulation Mommy & Daddy were going back to bed right afterwards!!

Some blog candy is up for grabs over at Spiral Whisper. They have some cute images!!

Happy Crafting!

Sharon

Happy Birthday...Dad

My Dad's birthday was the 28th, and I made this quickly on the 24th trying to get it out in the mail before pick-up. Our mail lady came a bit earlier than normal that day. Wonderful when one is expecting goodies in the mail, but not for getting a card out on time! Normally, it only takes one day from here to my parents' house, but of course, it took two days this time. Had to wait to post in case they took a peek at the blog.

Anyhoo...Dad is an award winning amateur photographer, and will lay in the wet grass/weeds/snow, etc. to get the perfect shot! Thought that the monkey with a camera was perfect. The stamp says, "Hang in there..." and I wrote, "...for a happy birthday!" on the inside (I think...can't remember). Monkey is Hero Arts, colored him with Bic Mark-it markers, camera sticker is Creative Memories.

Blog Hop

One of the reasons I started a blog was so I could participate in Papertrey Ink's Blog Hops.

Nichole says, "'Tis the season to recycle! Your challenge this month is to repurpose leftover holiday trimmings such as Christmas cards or gift wrap and create something all-new! Not only will this be fun, but also budget & earth friendly at the same time!"

When I began the card, I knew I wanted to use the "HoHoHo" card front. Originally I was going for this weeks SCS card sketch. However, I never could find a panel for section two that did not totally clash. I'll save that layout for another day.

Thanks to my Aunt Glenda for sending the Christmas card that I was able to repurpose into a new card. Santa was on the inside of the original card...he was all in gray, so I used Bic Mark-it pens to add some color. Inkssentials pen added some white to the fur trim of Santa's hat & coat. A touch of Icicle Stickles was popped onto the hat puff ball (hmm, if I owned Fun Flock, that would have looked cool on the white parts). Ribbon is from Target $1 Spot. The sentiment and kraft card base are both from Papertrey.

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Merry Christmas!

Girly Comments & Graphics

May you have a safe and happy holidays!
Merry Christmas!

Sharon

SCS Blog Group 6 Challenge

Linda created this sketch challenge for blogger group #6 on Splitcoast Stampers. I had fully intended on making a Christmas card when I began...you see how well that turned out! I think this might be my first ever square card. Couldn't decide what sentiment to use, so decided to wait until I know what occasion the card will be needed. It will go in the lower left white panel by the flower. All paper (except white) and ink is by PTI, brads by Spare Parts, and the ribbon is unknown.

We hit a wind gust with -47 degrees yesterday...brr! Too bad that Sunday paper couldn't have walked itself up the lane!

Happy Crafting,

Sharon

Sweet Treat

Here is the treat I made for my assistant. Since I'm still not up to par, this was a fast and easy goodie, plus my daughter was able to help. Hoping to be up to making a card tomorrow. Should have some energy since we're now on a two week break!! I put the treats in a cello bag when I actually gave the gift. The tin was from Target $1 Spot back in October or early November. Loved the colors and wish I had picked up more than just one! At the time, didn't have a specific plan for it, and decided last week that the dots reminded me of M&M's!! (I was just going to put her favorite candy bar into it). The extras that were for home never made it into a container...they were just snatched up off the tray by hungry hubby & youngin'! Okay, okay, I had a few, too :-)

Happy crafting,

Sharon

Teacher & Class Gift

Yeah!! Today was the last day of school for two weeks. We began the day with a 2-hour delay due to ice/freezing rain that came through in the early morning hours. It hit 50 degrees later in the day, then started dropping again. Rather than do a class gift exchange between students (most of the time teachers request that it is a book exchange), my daughter's 2nd grade teacher requested that we give a "gift" to the classroom of items for the room. Things such as a box of tissues, games for rainy/snowy inside recess days, markers, books, etc. We gave two packages of dry erase markers, which I was able to find on a buy 1, get 1 free sale! Daughter made the package with a little bit of help from me. She picked out the snowflake stamp and did the stamping, and she punched out the snowflakes and glued them onto the bag. I made the little tag.

ETA: For some reason when I resized this photo, the red around embossing looks all wonky. It is clear IRL.

For the teacher, I used the stocking stuffer Timeless Template from Lauren Meader. You can get this one free. If you go to the main beginning template page, it will tell you about them and how to download. I began making this several weeks ago when I was feeling well, then never got back to it to do more. I had planned on embossing the stocking cuff (which I didn't even put on) and the toe/heel spots, but just ended up using ink stitching. I used an Autumn Leaves florish with sliver/glitter embossing powder. The stocking was the perfect size for the gift. I also ordered one of these reuable bags for myself...very small and fit well in a purse. This teacher is very much into nature & recycling, so this was a perfect gift for her.

The rest of my Christmas cards were put in the mailbox today!!!! This is the latest I've ever gotten them out...but it's done!!

Happy crafting,

Sharon

A Card from Last Year

Been really sick here, and haven't made anything in a week, so thought I'd share one of the cards I made last year at Christmas time. No stamping on this one...sentiment is a sticker, DP is Doodlebug, as are the brads. We did get the tree put together and lights on it tonight. I could not find the hooks, so DD and I put up a bunch of ornaments that had loops or ribbon. Looks most of the way there. I'll get hooks tomorrow if I can't find them in a box, and then the final touch is icicles that look real!

Sharon

Doodlebug Christmas

This card was done for a Verve sketch challenge back in November. Okay...I know it's not "fresh made", but it hasn't been posted :-) Didn't get home until way late for me tonight. Daughter attended a "dance clinic" that the high school color guard put on for elementary students. She will be performing with them at a high school basketball game half-time show tomorrow evening. Don't think I've been to a h.s. game in about 17 years!! Last time probably was at the Hoosier Dome, for state finals when Damon Bailey was a senior (I was in college at that time and going out with a basketball fan). Oops, got off "card" topic! Anyhoo, the design paper, ribbon, and flower are all from Doodlebug--bought last year. Sentiment is PTI.

Here is a chance for you to win some gift wrap sets by Very Mary. Go check it out!

Happy crafting,

Sharon

Thank you card

Thank you to the many people who sent birthday wishes my way today!!!!! So exciting to get lots of happy emails! A co-worker gave me a gift card to Hobby Lobby--what the perfect gift to use along with a 40% off coupon! Since we do not work directly together this year, I was really surprised. She is just so super sweet (so are lots of the people I work with--hi to any of you reading). All of the paper is from Basic Gray Urban Prairie 6x6 pad...just love it! The card base is PTI Sweet Blush. Butterfly and lace border punch are Martha Stewart. Used gold stickles on the butterflies and made an "oops" so they all ended up with antennas, even though it wasn't planned. Not sure if you can tell from picture, but I did raise the wings on the butterfly. I'm going to slide this into my friend's mailbox, so won't even use an envelope. Butterfly stamp is from Inkadinkado, sentiment is PTI.

Happy crafting,

Sharon

Happy Birthday...

...to me! Yep....the big 4-0 today. Not sure what I think about it. Got several cards that have the "40 is the new 30" phrase. That seems okay. My self image (until I look in the mirror in the mornings!) is of myself at 24, which is how old I was when DH and I met. I flat out told him this summer that I wanted flowers at work this year. I hinted at it when I turned 30, but he needs the direct approach! Now, I know you're wondering how I already have a picture of the flowers...it's because the florist shop goofed up a bit and sent them a week early! That was okay as it truly was a surprise! He is the one who asked if I was going to take a picture when I arrived home with them. Good idea I thought!

Merry Christmoose!

I made this card several weeks ago using this sketch from Jen Del Muro. Guess what?!? It uses paper from the Making Memories FaLaLa pack! I do own other paper, I promise ya! Moose stamp is from one of the Walmart clear stamp sets for $2.97--can't beat that price! The circles are punch outs from the pack. A cream colored card base was used to match with the DP. White would have just been too bright! I still have yet to start addressing any cards! I don't send until after the 10th, but I normally have them ready to go by now! How are the rest of you doing if you send cards?

Sharon

Blog Candy!!

It's candy time!!! Check out these spots for a chance to win!

1. Clair's Candy
2. Polly's Candy

Took a trip with snowy roads to Cincinnati today. The drive home took three hours rather than the normal two! But, we were not one of the many slide offs that were seen! The snow looked picturesque on the trees out my aunt's window! Beautiful to look at, but not for driving :-)

With Sympathy

A co-worker's Grandmother-in-law passed away, and I needed to make a quick card to get out in the mail tomorrow. She will be out for several days, and I wanted the card to reach the family before she returns. Embossing and I are not friends yet. The powder seems to stick on other parts of the card, even after wiping it down with a dryer sheet (have never found an embossing buddy at Hobby Lobby or Jo-Ann's). I gave up the embossing idea and just stamped in a gold ink. Flower is SU! Happy Harmony and sentiment is from Hero Arts. Used my nesties to cut and emboss stamped panel, and used a gold metallic pen to trace rectangle.

On a happier note, I am sending out the baby card I made!! Baby decided to meet the world early this morning and joins three other siblings at home!

Courtney's Closet #25

This is a card for Libby's From Courtney's Closet Challenge. An acquaintance through work is due to have a baby boy any time now, and I needed an easy to mail card. I had wanted to do more layers and such, but it's late and we went to daughter's Christmas program this evening. Unfortunately, there was a long nap for me before hand, and I didn't get a chance to work on this. Elephant is from Hero Arts, and the sentiment is PTI Mixed Messages. Design paper is from the Debbie Mumm for Jo-Ann "Baby Girl" pack. I had a piece from a different pack that had stripes, but I liked the colors in this much better, and it had Libby's Polka Dots!! I used Bic Mark-It for the blue, a Sharpie orange, and Copic for the grey shadow.


Have a happy day! It's almost the weekend!


Sharon

Newbie Swap

Thought I would put up a non-Christmas card for a change of scenery.

Here is a card I did this summer for a newbie swap on SCS. It was nice knowing the whole group was newer to card making. Got some great cards in this swap. Design paper from DCWV, SU! sentiment stamp from the Happy Harmony set, Martha Stewart Doily border punch.

Sharon

Splitcoast sketch challenge 204

I'm really liking the downhome look and feel of the paper from the Making Memories FaLaLa pack. So easy to pick out several papers knowing that they are going to look good together and coordinate. The glitter star brads are from the FaLaLa set, too. Walmart clear stamps. I did this for the sketch challenge 204 at Splitcoast Stampers. Just made it yesterday. Oh well, they say no time limit on the challenges!




Sharon

First Posting

Well, like many others out there, I've decided to start up a blog to post my pictures and other various ramblings on life. An easy way for those who know me to see some of my creations. I think my little daughter is as thrilled about this as me, and has already requested to be allowed to post some of her creations. Our internet connection has not been working well the past several days, so we'll see how this goes. I'm setting it to post at midnight on December 1st, so it might be easy to remember when I started this all!

First offering is a card made for two different challenges. First, for the Stamp Something Black Friday Challenge and second, for the Paper Craft Planet 12day1 challenge.

I used the Walmart clear stamps, PTI Kraft paper, Making Memories FaLaLa design paper from the 8x8 pack, black ribbon, and scrap black card stock that had been run through the cuttlebug. Ink is Brilliance graphite black. I just used my permanent marker to make the stitching look around the stamped panels.

Leave me a comment and say, "Hi!"

Sharon