Saturday, June 16, 2012

ColourQ Challenge #141

This is my first ever ColourQ entry! I was looking for something to make for a birthday card for our teenage grandson and thought these wonderful colors would fit the bill. I had already pulled out four of them so added another blue and here is what I came up with!
I knew I wanted to use my new stamp set and dies from WPlus9. I had won Dawn's Berry set and dies at the last release and since I had been wanting to order her stamps for quite a while, I placed my first order. LOVE the stamps! They stamp so beautifully and the dies are the greatest. They came linked together but were super easy to snap apart! Now I am so anxious to make something with the berries!!

I cut the pocket out of Enchanted Evening cardstock, then used a stamp inked with London Fog ink to give the look of denim with a little texture. The stitching was stamped with Fresh Snow ink.The frog is from Jillibean Soup. I tried him on green paper first but liked how the details show better on white. The "a pocketful of Birthday wishes" is in the A Pocketful set. "Hey" was stamped using just part of a WMS sentiment. The "Just for you" came from the same WM set.
Best wishes to all on this Father's Day weekend! 

Thanks for visiting,
SHARRON

Supplies
Stamps: A Pocketful (WPlus9); Compact Sentiments (WMS): Frogs (Jillibean Soup)
Cardstock: Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky, Enchanted Evening, Stamper's Select White (PTI); Green from stash (either Stampin' Up or Bazzill)
Patterned Paper: Bitty Boxes (Spring Rain)--PTI
Dies: Pocketful (WPlus9)
Additional: Copper Eyelets (American Crafts); Memento Ink (Bamboo Leaves, Paris Dusk, London Fog); PTI Fresh Snow Ink

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #101

This week's sketch is by the talented Edna Morrisedie.  And HERE is the link to see some wonderful inspiration from the Mischief Makers and WM Designers. You still have time to play along--just post your entry by Friday. 

Sometimes it's the paper that the inspiration! Last weekend when I went to get a couple of Copic markers refilled, I noticed this great Graphic 45 paper and immediately thought of French Country. This is a 12" x 12" sheet and it worked wonderfully for the background. Love the shade of blue and creamy yellow! I used the French Country background stamp and stamped it with Amuse Toffee ink on Fine Linen cardstock. I wanted it subtle so I could stamp the sentiment over the pattern. The sun I cut out free hand. I wanted it to look whimsical and irregular--think I did it! The frame die is the first one in the Framed Out series by PTI and it's my favorite. The flower was made with a Rolled Rose die by MFT and the leaves came from a Memory Box set. I added a bit of twine and used clear embossing powder on the sentiment. 
DO YOU POST YOUR PHOTOS USING THE LARGE SETTING OR EXTRA LARGE? EXTRA LARGE SEEMS REALLY BIG BUT THEY CERTAINLY ARE EASIER TO SEE!
Besides our ongoing storm damage projects, I have been trying to make a stab at organizing my craft area and making some revisions on my blog. Biggest problem is finding where to put all the paper scraps and extra die cuts--any suggestions? 

Thanks so much for dropping by! Love it when you leave a comment too!
Sharron

Supplies
Stamps: French Country (WMS)
Cardstock: Fine Linen, Harvest Gold, Enchanted Evening (PTI); Unknown Green
Patterned Paper: Domestic Goddess Collection (Graphic 45)
Dies: Framed Out #1 (PTI); Mini Rolled Roses (MFT); Tender Leaves (Memory Box)
Additional: Corner Punch (EK Success); Felt (Local Quilt Shop); Twine (Martha Stewart), Pure Poppy Button (PTI); Red Pearls (Queen and Co.); Embroidery Thread; Memento Inks; Clear Embossing Powder (Ranger)

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

WMSC #100: A Bonny New Baby

This week's WMSC is a really big event and I just had to do another card! Couldn't pass up the chance to use one of my favorite WM sets, Lil Buddies! I love doing the little critters with patterned papers and because I enjoy paper piecing so much, the bunny is again done in plaid! I adore plaid and since I had this new paper that I bought when a LSS went out of business, it was an easy choice. The ears and tail are the same Bitty Dot paper that I used for the background. And the lace is from WM--isn't it gorgeous! The sentiment, from Say It Loud, is embossed with both silver and white embossing powders.
Hope you have been enjoying all the great entries. There are lots of fantastic projects being posted so be sure to visit HERE!

Thanks for taking a peek at my newest entry!
Sharron

Supplies
Stamps: Lil Buddies, Say It Loud (WMS)
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White (PTI)
Patterned Papers: New Addition (Pebbles); Bitty Dot Basics 2008 (PTI); Back to Backs (Bo Bunny)
Additional: Labels 11 (Spellbinders); Heart Pearl (Martha Stewart); 1 3/4" Limitless Layers Dies (PTI); Lace (WMS); White and Silver Embossing Powders (Ranger); Memento Ink (Angel Pink)

Monday, June 4, 2012

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #100

Hi everyone! Have you visited Claire's blog over at Waltzingmouse yet? There are fabulous things happening. This week is the 100th week for the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge and there is lots of inspiration contributed by the WM designers and Mischief Makers---plus there are prizes!! Just click HERE to learn more.

I missed last week's challenge so couldn't be late again! Actually I hope to submit more than one card. You can do that too! I am also behind on my Christmas cards. That's another WM activity--so much going on over there!! Anyway, my card for the sketch challenge will also be submitted for the May Christmas challenge.

I got to use supplies that came in my last order. I had been wanting this stamp set for a long time! I've also seen a lot of very creative cards using a combination of sentiments--subway art, I believe it is called. And to meet the requirement for the May Christmas challenge, I needed to use some chipboard. I made my own by cutting six circles and gluing them together. Then I used another circle, stamped with the Santa image, and glued it on top. My chipboard piece was then mounted on a die cut circle, using the same paper as one of the background papers, and then popped up with pop dots. I used a piece of twine that Claire introduced with the last release. Love the rustic feel! The reindeer border is an EK Success punch. I cut them from Pinefeather paper, which is a very dark green, but they look even darker in the photo! They really are green!
Be sure to visit the WMSC blog and see all the other entries. There is still plenty of time for you to enter!! 

Thanks for visiting!
SMILES,
Sharron

Supplies
Stamps: Santa Is Coming To Town (WMS)
Cardstock: Fine Linen, Pinefeather (PTI)
Patterned Paper: Mitten Weather and Dear Mr. Claus (Cosmo Cricket)
Additional: Reindeer (EK Success Punch); Limitless Layers 1 3/4" (PTI); Memento Inks (Lady Bug, Cottage Ivy); Twine (WMS)

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The 12 Kits of Christmas: Presenting in May---The Kit of Hanukkah!!




It's that fun time again---time for the 12 Kits of Christmas Blog Hop! And this month our very talented hostess is Joyce Mehrberg, Cards-by-the-Sea. Joyce is of the Jewish faith and created the most incredible kit for us just full of of things to make for Hanukah. She also included a brief history of the holiday. She explained that Hanukah (or Chanukah or Hanukkah) is not a very important Jewish holiday but a fun one. It celebrates the rededication of the temple in Jerusaleum after it was attacked by the Greeks. It is also known as the festival of lights and is normally celebrated by lighting candles on a Menorah, playing dreidel, eating latkes and, of course, presents! Below is a photo of all our gorgeous supplies, taken by Kara, our very talented 12 Kits photographer! If you have visited on the other months, you know we have created our little group as a way to work throughout the year on those Christmas/Holiday cards that can become such a cumbersome project at the end of each year. Each month one member puts kits together for herself and each member of our group. Love it when the new kit comes---just imagine a fabulous envelope of surprise stamping goodies!!
PHOTO BY KARA

I had so much fun with Joyce's kit. My projects came together so easily and were really enjoyable to make. I love the colors and Joyce included so many wonderful patterned papers and great die cuts. As always, I have a bunch of supplies left over--one of the many benefits of being part of this amazing group! A highlight of every month is reveal night! It is so inspiring and such fun to see what everyone has made!


My first creation is a card. All the supplies came from the kit except the silver panel, the card base and the pearls, which I colored with Copic's Cool Gray #C3. I used a silver glitter pen to do the flames on the candles but you probably can't see this in the photo. 
And since Hanukah is a holiday where lots of gifts are given, my next two projects are things that can be used to accompany a gift. For this one I used a tag that is slipped inside the panel of patterned paper. I did glue the paper first to a piece of cardstock before using Scor-Tape to mount it on the cardstock base. This helped give it more body.

Here is a photo of the back of the tag!
I used the Favor-it #3 die cut to make a small gift box. Perhaps some gold-wrapped chocolate coins could be placed inside. I used the small triangle that Joyce included that was stamped with 'Just a little something" and cut out one of the dreidels. I stamped "For and From" on the back of the triangle. Both were tied to some ribbon and can be tucked inside the sentiment label. I attached it on three sides only.
Be sure to visit all the wonderful blogs where you are sure to find lots of inspiration.

Hugs,
Sharron


Note at 8:30pm: We are having terrible storms here tonight so hopefully this will get posted on schedule. A terrible hail storm just a little while ago wiped out our entire daylily garden. We will have to wait until morning to see the results on the house and cars! We were hoping for rain but not like this!!

Supplies I used:
Stamps: Mazel Tov, Triangle Trilogy, Fillable Frames #4 and #10 (all PTI); "For and From" from WMS Twas the Night Before Christmas
Dies: Favor-It #3, Tag Sale #5, Triangle Trilogy, Fillable Frames #4 and #10, Double-ended Banner, Limitless Layers Circles and Ovals (PTI); Whimsy Circle (Memory Box)
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Enchanted Evening, Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky, Harvest Gold (PTI)
Patterned Paper: Digital Kit from Etsy
Ribbon: PTI and Amuse

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Waltzingmouse Challenges: A Cozy Christmas

It's time for this month's Waltzingmouse Blog Party!! And because I was very late getting my card done and then felt sick yesterday morning, I ended up creating my card using inspiration from this week's WM sketch and the photo for the February Christmas challenge. I am really that far beyond with my Christmas cards! But now there are only three to go before being caught up!!
MAY THEME: FELT AND COZY FABRICS
Here is the sketch created by the wonderful Lynn Mercurio. What a fun design and a real challenge--ended  up being a toughie for me!
Below is the inspiration photo. There are so many options to choose from so I used several!
So here is my card! 
I used three WM stamp sets and a bunch of dies! The letters, holly leaves and stockings were all cut from felt! The finished card is 5"x 5". The garlands at the top were stamped using the wreath die from Twas the Night Before Christmas and the window and candle are also from that set. The tree and reindeer are from Nordic Winter.

I won't keep you so you can go visit all the other blogs! I know you will find some fabulous inspiration. If you haven't yet ordered any WM stamps, you might want to add a few to your wish list. Claire has such a wonderful selection in her store!

Have fun hopping!
Sharron

Supplies
Stamps: Twas the Night Before Christmas, Nordic Winter, Compact Sentiments (WMS)
Cardstock: New Leaf, Pure Poppy, Vintage Cream, Rustic White (PTI)
Patterned Paper: Mr. Claus (Cosmo Cricket)
Dies: Alphabet Dies, Framed Out #1, Framed Out #3, Holly Jolly Collection, Love Lives Here Holiday Collection, Take Three (all PTI)
Additional: Felt (PTI, local quilt store); Dew Drops; Pearls (Recollections); Copics; Memento Inks (Bamboo Leaves, Lady Bug); Amuse Ink-Slate

Friday, May 18, 2012

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #97

This week's sketch is by the talented Lynn Mercurio! And guess what came in the mail this week--some fabby new WM stamps! I couldn't wait to try out the little ellie in Half Pint Heroines. I was planning on posting yesterday but didn't get all the paper piecing done until this morning. This is the perfect image for that! I wanted a lot of dimension so I cut out the elephant first, the head with ears and then the head without ears! The toenails and the fringe were all cut out too. Not really hard to do but a little time consuming! The 'smile' is done with thickers to add even more dimension!

Thanks so much for checking out my entry! Sorry I'm so late getting it posted!

Enjoy your weekend,
SMILES
Sharron

Supplies
Stamps: Half Pint Heroines (WMS)
Cardstock: Spring Moss, Aqua Mist, Melon Berry, Hawaiian Shores, Stamper's Select White (all PTI)
Patterned Paper: Green Tea Leaves, Bitty Baby Blessings (PTI)
Additional: Thickers (American Crafts); Rhinestones (My Mind's Eye); Twine (The Twinery), Memento Rich Cocoa Ink