Top 10 from 2010!

I am planning on working on some new stamping projects today but after seeing several blogs of Top 10 selections, I thought it would be fun to look back on cards I made during the past year. The thing I realized was how much I had used certain sets or images and how similar in style my cards seem to be. I am so not a frilly or vintage person. Even when I have tried (like making 'puffy' flowers), there is still
that more taylored look. I also can see how much I enjoy embossing, coloring with Copics and paper piecing. All things I do a lot without even realizing it.

I had a couple of Christmas cards that were also special that I didn't include. These are roughly in order of oldest to newest.

I love Daily Designs and used this heart and sentiment A LOT!

Works great for Valentine's Day

My first puffy flower, per Dawn McVey's inspiration!

Another favorite set (actually have all 3 coordinated ones)

Wonderful sentiments too!

LOVED Wonderfully Whimsical from the first sneak peek!

(This was before I had cloud dies and I cut out my own--ugh!)

Christmas version

This one's from a PTI Blog Hop

I adore Harvest Gold and it works

so great with black and white

Vintage Picnic--another favorite!

I use it a lot

And of course, I can't get along without

 Pure Innocence images. Perhaps you noticed

I love to do paper piecing as well! 

Another wonderful PTI introduction

Up, Up and Away (now with cloud dies!)

Reviewing your own projects is really fun and pretty educational as well. If you have time, take a few minutes to look back and post your choices. Hope the new year holds many new challenges and enjoyable stamping experiences.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week.........

Smiles,

Sharron

Christmas Hugs: WMSC #27

Goodness, are you all as busy as I am? Still so much to do before Christmas! I have been playing with my new WM stamps and making more Christmas cards that I still need to get mailed. I finally got the Teeny Trees set and it really is adorable. I helped a friend make notebook favors for her school reunion dinner this fall and yesterday she brought by an absolutely gorgeous centerpiece as a thank you. She does flower arranging and makes the most beautiful arrangements. This card is my thank you card for her and also for this week's WMC Sketch Challenge.

Hope you are having a productive week and getting all those last minute holiday jobs done!

Thanks for taking a few minutes to stop by and visit.

Smiles,

Sharron

Supplies

Stamps: Teeny Trees, Twas the Night Before Christmas (both WMS); Peace Be Still (PTI)

Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Plum Pudding (PTI)

Patterned Paper: Mitten Weather (Cosmo Cricket)

Additional: Spellbinders Circles Die, Snowflake Die (PTI), Starry Nights Embossing Folder (Sizzix), White Diamonds Embossing Powder, PTI Silk Ribbon dyed with Copics, Purple Rhinestones, Doily,

Inks (PTI Chai, VersaMagic Spring Pansy, Memento Sweet Plum)

Believe in the Magic: PDCC #58 and WMSC #26

Hi everyone! I have been posting very infrequently lately. Like many of you, holiday plans have been taking precedence. I still have many Christmas cards and other items to make so today's card can go in my stash! When I recently ordered some PTI dies I decided to add on the Believe set. It has been on my wish list for ages and when I saw the recent design team posts, it reminded me that I needed to add it to my Christmas supplies. The sketch is this week's WMSC design. And I used the sentiment from 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' set that I just received in my WMS order. Isn't the font awesome! I had never made a circle card before so this was a fun thing to try. And the colors work perfectly for the current PDCC.

Hope everyone is doing well. To the PTI Peeps-I have been checking blogs even when I couldn't leave comments. I always enjoy the fantastic inspiration and please know I am thinking of you all!

Have a wonderful week.  

Thanks for stopping by,

Sharron

Supplies

Stamps: Believe (PTI), Twas the Night Before Christmas (WMS)

Cardstock: Pure Poppy, Stamper's Select White (PTI)

Patterned Paper: Holiday Vintage Prints (PTI)

Additional: Plaid and Sugar Embossing Folders (Sizzix), Spellbinders Dies-Circles and Scalloped Circles, Die from Teapot Set (PTI), Red Pearls (Queen and Co.), Ribbon-stash, Copics, Platinum Metallic Ink (Colorbox)

Keep Christmas in your Heart: WMS Challenge #25

I have been so out of touch! Finally went to the doctor last week and got started on a couple of meds. He thought my allergies had turned into a sinus infection. Normally this isn't much of a problem but it has been years since I have had anything this severe and after three weeks I am so happy to be feeling better. 

My card today is using WMS Seasons of Love (LOVE the beautiful detail on these) and I used the current WMS sketch. The heart and the star in this set can be used for so many things other than Christmas. The heart and snowflake are embossed with white diamonds embossing powder. It doesn't show very well in the photo but it is very sparkly due to silver being mixed in with the white. The dry embossing on the green was highlighted with a silver pen. I had first brushed it with Fresh Snow ink. I like how the white gives the look of velvet on the dark color. The snowflake was cut with the smallest PTI snowflake die and then stamped with the snowflake from the WM set. How wonderful to be able to combine products!

Hope you are having a good week! I had ambitious plans to have all the Christmas shopping done this week but sadly got less than 1/3 done. But partial success is better than none! Right!!

Have a great weekend,

Sharron

Supplies

Stamps: Seasons of Love (Waltzingmouse)

Cardstock: Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Pinefeather (all PTI)

Patterned Paper: Mitten Weather (Cosmo Cricket)

Additional: Snowflakes #4 Border Embossing Folder (Sizzix), White Diamond Embossing Power (Judikins'), Snowflake Die (PTI), Circle Punch, Fresh Snow Ink (PTI), Brad (Basic Grey)

PTI November Blog Hop

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the States! Today is also the PTI Blog Hop. And the theme is TAGS! Click on picture to enlarge to view detail better.

What fun to make and easy too since I now have the tag dies. And Tiny Treats Christmas is perfect for the images. I love to color with my Copics so I just punch a bunch of circles, stamp the images and take them with me to color while watching TV. The Limitless Layers dies also are a quick way to add decorative background colors. For these tags I decided to use embossing borders that came with a new Sizzix set, Christmas Set #6. Stamps, dies (expect MS snowflake) and cardstock are all from PTI.

On some I added additional trim like the Martha Stewart punch snowflake. The holly border lacked contrast even after I sponged on a little green ink so I used the circles that were left when I punched the tags. Glued on two circles and added a red pearl!

Wherever you are and whatever you have planned for today, hope it is wonderful!

Enjoy the hop,

Sharron

Fall Thank You

We were out of town for four days over the weekend and I am still feeling crummy with a head cold so I haven't even looked at stamping supplies for more than a week! Luckily I was able to get two baskets almost done at the Basket Weave In I went to though!

I made this card a couple of weeks ago--right after the PTI design team posted some samples when revisiting the First Fruits set. A friend had called wanting to buy a few thank you cards. I had several made up but wanted a few more with a fall theme so this set was perfect. It also gave me a chance to use the new Limitless Layers dies!

Supplies
Stamps: First Fruits, Round and Round (both PTI)
Cardstock: Fine Linen, Rustic White, Terracotta Tile, Dark Chocolate
Patterned Paper: Acorns (Creative Imagination-Debbie Mum)
Additional: Mat Stack 1 and Limitless Layers Dies (PTI), Leafy Branch Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Rich Cocoa and Potter's Clay Ink (Memento)


Thanks so much for visiting,
Sharron

PDCC #54; PTI Peeps Challenge #19 (Turn a Negative Into a Positive)

Hi All! Finally taking a few minutes to post this card. I knew exactly what I wanted to make when I saw Aimes' post for the Peeps challenge. I wish it was always like that! Anyway, I was so glad to be instantly inspired and got my card done on Friday, using the colors from this week's PDCC. Then, unfortunately, my two-week fall allergy condition turned into a major sinus problem on Friday night. Lots of congestion, pressure and pain added to the runny nose and sneezing. I hate how wiped out it makes me feel. After a trip last night to the drug store, I am doing a little better today and even got a bit of house cleaning done. Yeah! 

I've been having such fun with all my new PTI dies! Seems my stamping budget is now being used more for dies than stamps!! For this card I stamped some Melon Berry cardstock with the "Twas the Night Before Christmas" stamp from Background Basics-Christmas. The little mouse and piece of wrapped candy are from that set also. Then I used the tree die to cut my negative image. For a background I used Spring Moss cardstock and decorated the tree with a simple embroidery stitch to sew a garland and added melon berry buttons. Another die easily cut the ornament and I attached it with a copper brad and some Spring Moss ribbon. Sentiment is from KaiserCraft.

As always, love that you stopped by,

Have a super week!

Sharron

PDCC #51

The colors at PDCC worked perfectly for a masculine card. I usually struggle with 'guy' designs but this one came together pretty easily. I used the trees from Through the Trees by PTI. And I really liked how Aimes (Amy Wanford), one of the PTI Peeps, got a different look by stamping on patterned paper so I found something in light green with a touch of blue--and not flowery! For the trees I used Color Box ink in a metallic copper and then embossed with clear embossing powder. I added the deer on the inside as a finishing touch. Actually turned out to be quick and easy and I am happy with the results!

Supplies

Stamps: Through the Trees (PTI), Deer is from Martha Stewart

Papers: Kraft cardstock (PTI), Patterned Paper (My Mind's Eye), Colored Cardstock (my stash)

Additional: Spellbinders Square Dies, EK Success Border Punch, Clear Embossed Powder

Thanks for visiting,

Sharron

Whimsical Christmas: PDCC Challenge #50

I love this week's colors and the clean, fresh design in the inspiration photo for the current Play Date Cafe Challenge. So I decided my card needed a lot of white. I also like to color so I chose a house and the funky tree from Wonderfully Whimsical (PTI). Becky has another PTI set being introduced this month and I am so anxious to add it to my collection--it's another tree and it's fabulous! LOVE trees!

The dies are also PTI--Mat Stack 4 and Fillable Frames 7. Together they are perfect for making a frame. The sentiment is from Signature Christmas. The embossing is Cuttlebug-Snowflakes and I added some glitter and rhinestones for sparkle.

Supplies

Stamps: Wonderfully Whimsical, Signature Christmas (PTI)

Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, New Leaf, Berry Sorbet (all PTI)

Additional: Mat Stack 4 and Fillable Frames 7 (PTI Dies), Snowflakes Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Rhinestones, Pearls, White Glitter, Copics

Please leave a note if you have time. I love your comments!

Smiles,

Sharron

Rainbows and Sunshine!

Inside view of card

I have seen so many cards recently with sections cut out that I wanted to use that concept for this card! I wasn't thinking, however, about problems using it on a multi-layer card! I started with three layers with the top being red and then decided I preferred the light blue. I could only get two sheets of cardstock at a time to cut in my Cuttlebug so I had to try to match up the other two. Let me tell you--this was not an easy job!! Not perfect but pretty good considering. Love the idea but I may stick to one or two layers in the future!!

Supplies

Stamps: Up, Up and Away and Up, Up and Away Sentiments (PTI); Sun Kissed (Bo Bunny)

Cardstock: Light Blue (Bazzill); Stamper's Select White, Pure Poppy, Enchanted Evening (all PTI)

Additional: Cloud Dies, Balloon Dies (both PTI), Copics, Corner Punch, Clear Embossing Powder

Enjoy your week,

Sharron

PDCC #47

I have been so busy trying to finish up garden chores and get the last few daylilies in the ground that I almost didn't get this week's PDCC finished. I knew I wanted to use Wonderfully Whimsical stamps from the first day I saw this challenge posted. It seems to just fit!

Supplies

Stamps: Wonderfully Whimsical, Mailbox Greetings (both PTI)

Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Vintage Cream, Hawaiian Shores (all PTI)

Patterned Paper: Material Girl, Garden Variety (both Cosmo Cricket)

Additional: Copics, Cloud Die (PTI), Baker's Twine (Martha Stewart), Pure Poppy Button (PTI)

Lots more yet to do this week!!

Have a good one,

Sharron

Embellish Color Challenge with Paper Piecing

Another chance to use a Pure Innocence image--Yeah! They are one of my favorite paper piecing toys. Part of my PI images are stamps and part are digitals. I think the stamps are so much easier to use when paper piecing but the digitals are great because you can alter the size. Today's is a digital and I made her larger than usual.  My inspiration was a little book I bought some time ago for a friend and her birthday is coming up next week. It is called A Birthday Wish for You by Chris Shea. It is a sweet little story with whimsical drawings about a bouquet of birthday balloons and what each one means. So, of course, my card needed to have a balloon too!

After everything was done except gluing on the main image I realized I had not used the kraft I had intended to use for the base. So a quick change of plans--for her belt, instead of black as I had planned, I braided some twine and created a little kraft belt! The yellow dots were 'recycled' from the confetti all over my desk created by the border punch I used for the background strip.

Hope she will make my friend smile!

So happy you could stop by,
Sharron


Supplies
Stamps: Pure Innocence (digital), Daily Designs Sentiments (PTI)
Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Ripe Avocado, Spring Moss, Harvest Gold (all PTI)
Patterned Paper: Bubbles Sunflower (The Paper Lady), Bumblebee-Crushed Velvet (Doodlebug Designs), Holiday Vintage Prints (PTI)
Additional: Rustic Twine (PTI), Vintage Button-Ripe Avocado (PTI), Copics, Glossy Accents, Embroidery Thread

PDCC #46: Black and White with a Color Choice-Pink, Gold or Copper!

This week's PDCC is a 'Color Splash' using black and white with either pink, gold or copper. As you can see, my choice is a splash of PINK! I used the last week's sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge. I know I say this a lot but I love Pure Innocence images! I tried paper piecing her outfit but just couldn't come up with a good way to do her hands that looked natural so I colored it with Copics--a warm gray with black for the accents. The boots and umbrella are paper pieced from some Bo Bunny Back to Backs paper in Tutu Dot. The umbrella is from the dotted side and the boots from the plainer textured side. Had to put some Glossy Accents on the boots and love how they came out! I used a Spica pen in Clear on the rain but unfortunately it doesn't show up well in the photo. A little glitter is always fun!!

Supplies

Stamps: Pure Innocence (MFT)

Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, True Black, Soft Stone (all PTI); Smooth White Copic (Bazzill)

Patterned Paper: Bitty Dots (PTI)

Additional: Pearls, Ribbon (May Arts), EK Success Border Punch, Corner Punch, Spellbinders Labels 1, Copics, Glossy Accents

Thanks for stopping by. Please leave a comment if you have time--I love getting your input!

Sharron

Embellish Color Challenge: Using Squares

I really like these colors from this week's Embellish Challenge--but at first couldn't seem to get anything I tried to click. This is try #2! Perfect colors for Halloween and I love this little image from Taylored Expressions called Spooky Expressions. I used the spider web image to create my own background paper, added a few squares, a sentiment and some embroidery thread for a really quick and easy card! The kettle is paper pieced and the rest of the image is colored with Copics and highlighted with a white Gelly Roll marker and some orange stickles. The 'bubbles' on the bottom are Rain Dots in black and green. Cardstock is all from PTI (Soft Stone, True Black, Simply Chartreuse, Plum Pudding and Stamper's Select White).

Halloween designs are always such fun! 

Smiles,

Sharron

PDCC #45: Papertrey Peeps Challenge #5 and #15

Back with more fall creations and more Basic Grey Indian Summer papers! These should meet the current Peeps challenge by Angy to use fall colors as well as for PDCC this week. See PDCC colors above! I chose PTI's Kraft, Summer Sunrise and and Scarlet Jewel as my base colors. 

The bookmark and butterfly are from some Dear Lizzy's fabric paper in Fireberry. I bought a couple of sheets on sale at a local LSS. It didn't seem to be selling very well! I don't think people knew what to use it for as even the owner didn't have any suggestions. But I thought it might work for bookmarks. It is heavier than paper and has a nice texture. It won't cut with scissors (Edited to note that I tried my Tim Holtz Tonic Scissors and they work fine) or punches without fraying but works great with dies or a paper cutter. However, it is too thick to cut clear through the fabric and the backing on my Cuttlebug but would cut fine through just the fabric. It is self-sticking so no problem just removing the fabric piece. I cut an identical piece out of cardstock and then glued them together. Together it makes a perfect weight and thickness for the bookmarks. I decided to try medium size eyelets at the top and they work really well also and will provide a more sturdy hole where you can tie twine, ribbon or embroidery thread (as shown, in two colors). Finally, I also finished off with a little Chai Vintage Ink on the edges. For the large butterfly, I used the Butterfly Die and cut two out of Summer Sunrise and one from the fabric paper. That way the fabric has a backing and there is an additional layer for dimension. Lastly I went over the design with a gold Gelly Roll pen.

This is for a birthday gift so I also cut out a template to provide a little box for some candy. Doesn't this qualify for another of the Peeps challenges--#5 by Terry who challenged us to make something with a template! Wow, I think I am only behind by two challenges now!!

Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend. I have tons of projects at home that I should be doing but ended up playing instead! Have a relaxing Monday if you live where it is a holiday!

And thanks for stopping by,

Sharron

Supplies

Card/Bookmark

Stamps: Butterfly Dreams, All Booked Up, Life, First Fruits, Communique Sentiments (all PTI); Jungle Bug Collection (KaiserCraft)

Cardstock: Kraft, Summer Sunrise, Scarlet Jewel (all PTI)

Patterned Paper: Indian Summer (Basic Grey), Fireberry (Dear Lizzy)

Additional: Ribbon (May Arts), Spellbinders Labels 11, Butterfly Die (PTI), Autumn Harvest Jewels (The Paper Company), Small Butterfly Die (Martha Stewart), Gelly Roll Pen, Medium Copper Eyelets (American Crafts), Embroidery Thread, Memento Inks

Box (Tucked Away Template-PTI)

Stamps: Daily Designs (PTI)

Additional: Summer Sunrise Cardstock (PTI), Autumn Abundance P.P. (PTI), Circle Punches, Ribbon from Stash

PDCC #44: SSSC 83

Finally back to post a card--just couldn't seem to get any inspiration of late! I combined the sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge with this week's PDCC colors. When I first saw this PDCC challenge, the colors reminded me of colors from the Basic Grey Indian Summer line. I used these a lot for cards last fall and got it out to see what might work. The navy added the contrast and kraft is my neutral. I didn't have anything that could be considered mustard but, while stopping by the LSS to see the new fall products, I picked up a sheet of Bo Bunny's Back to Backs in Honey Mustard Dots. I used one side for the background layer and stamped leaves on the textured side. This is a Kaiser Craft stamp set and I like that the leaves all have patterns and are super easy to cut out. The tag is the PTI bookmark topper die. I punched slits in the top and wove the ribbon through.

Quite unlike my usual cards but it reminds me of playing in a pile of leaves on a gorgeous fall day,

Have a great week,

Sharron

Supplies

Stamps: Jungle Bug (KaiserCraft), Mixed Messages (PTI)

Cardstock: Kraft, Raspberry Fizz, Hibiscus Burst (PTI), Navy (Bazzill)

Patterned Paper: Back to Backs (Bo Bunny), Indian Summer (Basic Grey)

Additional: Spellbinders Large Circles, Bookmark Topper Die (PTI), Scrap Ribbon, Pearl (Basic Grey)

PDCC #43; Card Patterns Sketch 78

Play Date Cafe Challenge #43 has these wonderful cool, refreshing colors--so perfect for an end of summer card. If you have an August birthday, a soothing card is definitely in order! This is for my step daughter. Click on photo twice to enlarge so the detail will show up. I was having a little trouble with taking the photos. I was looking around for a sketch idea and found this fun and new (to me) blog, Card Patterns. There is a new sketch each week and I look forward to visiting again.

The main image is a bird cage stamp by Kaiser Craft. I stamped it with Colorbox Metallic ink and embossed with clear embossing powder. The lime layer is cut with the largest Spellbinders Labels 11 and embossed with a Quikutz embossing folder. The patterned papers are geometric to help keep a clean look. I also inked the ribbon with a light color Copic--something I had never tried before but it is very easy and I like the effect. A few rhinestones were added for glimmer!

Supplies

Stamps: Le Chateau (KaiserCraft); Birthday Basics (PTI)

Cardstock: Dark Green (Bazzill); Stamper's Select White (PTI)

Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye, Piggy Tales

Ink: Color Box Metallic; Cottage Ivy (Memento)

Additional: Vines Embossing Folder (Quikutz), Corner Punch, EK Success Border Punch, Martha Stewart Dove Punch, Rhinestones (Lush by My Mind's Eye), White Silk Ribbon (PTI), Clear Embossing Powder, Copic BG10

Wishes for a fabulous week,

Sharron

Embellish Color Challenge: Quirky-Cutesy-Clean Style

This week's challenge on the Embellish Magazine blog is to do something "quirky, cutesy and clean". I thought I would have a problem finding something in the quirky and cutesy category but I knew I had the proper colors. I had purchased these bingo cards some time ago and thought the colors would be  perfect to use with some PTI cardstock. Then yesterday I looked for them and couldn't find them anywhere! Perhaps buying too many supplies? Anyway, I tried again this morning and not only found the bingo cards but also found this stamp. I have two Brentwood stamps from ages ago that are sadly in need of a little love! I thought I might give this to a friend who is planning to retire and loves to go to Florida. Thought the beach scene might be appropriate!

I colored him with Copics, added a little sparkle to the sun lotion lid and used plastic film on his sunglasses and on the glass. Sentiment is from a Pure Innocence set from MFT. The hint of a 'wave' is cut with the PTI rickrack die.

Supplies
Stamps: Brentwood Owl (Jessica Lynn Original); Pure Innocence Beach Bum (MFT)
Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Aqua Mist, Kraft, Melon Berry (all PTI)
Additional: Mini Bingo Card (Jenni Bowlin Studio), Grafix Clear Craft Plastic, Button (PTI), Rickrack Die (PTI), Spellbinders Large Deckled Rectangles, Copics

I love doing color challenges so have really enjoyed these from Embellish Magazine.
Hope your weekend is going well!
Thanks for the visit,
Sharron