Woo Hoo! Published again!

I was SO excited to receive my complimentary issue of Just Cards Birthdays! today!! Once I saw that white envelope from Scott Publications, I knew I had been published again! This is only the second time that I've been published in a magazine and the novelty hasn't worn off, yet! It's thrilling to actually see your own card in print! I had two cards published- both cards that I made for the Meade Girls' challenges! You can see my cards here and here.

Three other Meade Girls were also published- Amanda had 3 cards, and Tracy and Loretta each had 1 card. Congratulations, girls! Your cards are fabulous!!!

Tuesday Throwdown- Monochromatic

It's Tuesday! And that can only mean that it's time for another Sherrod Studio Tuesday Throwdown! Our challenge this week was to create a monochromatic card. Well, I'm never quite sure of the true definition of a monochromatic card. Does it mean just use only one color? Does it mean you can use variations of one color? Can I use white for the image? Well, here is MY version of a monochromatic card:

The image used is from the Down Home Blessings stamp set. I stamped it onto GP110 white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black. I colored in the boy's overalls using the Light Crockery Blue Copic Marker and punched it out using my Cuttlebug and scalloped oval Nesties. I then sponged Night of Navy ink around the edges. The card base is Night of Navy. The patterned papers are from Close to My Heart's Serendiptity DSP. I used the eyelet punch to punch the bottom edge of the one patterned paper and layered a strip of Night of Navy under it which had also been punched with the eyelet punch. I stamped the Thank You sentiment from Down Home Blessings and punched that out using the large oval punch and layered that onto Night Of Navy which had been punched out using the large oval punch. The ribbon is from the Offray Ribbon Outlet. I hope my monochromatic card is acceptable for the challenge. Hopefully one of these days I'll know the TRUE meaning of monochromatic! :)

Now, go and check out the other Sherrod Studio Design Team members' blogs and see their definition of monochromatic! Here are the links to their blogs:

Sherrod Studio Business Blog

Ceal Pritchett

Dawn Barrett

Joseline Capre

Kim Sherrod (owner)

Leah Cornelius

Mary Vogel

Challenged by Challenges!

It's been a busy month so I haven't had a lot of stamping time, but Sunday I finally got to sit down and stamp! Woo Hoo! It felt SO good to create again!

Bombshell Stamps has 2 challenges going this month- the first is a sketch challenge. Here is what the sketch looks like:


Now, here is my take on the sketch:

I made the card a standard 4-1/2" x 5-1/4". The small squares were punched out of Stampin' Up's Cast-A-Spell DSP using the 1-1/4" square punch and attached to a Basic Black card base. The hot rod image is from the King of The Road stamp set and stamped onto GP110 white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copics (the greens match MUCH better in real life!) I sponged Tuxedo Black ink around the edges of the image and layered it onto Basic Black and then Summer Sun to give it a little pop. I stamped the King of the Road banner and colored that using Copic Markers, cut it out and popped it up on dimensionals. After it was all said and done, I realized that the skull squares weren't alternated on the top and bottom like I wanted but by then, it was too late!!

Ms. January Bombshell, Lyss, gave us our second challenge of the month and that was to create a Valentine. It could be sexy or sassy or even "anti-" Valentine. Here's what I came up with:

The card is 5-1/5" square. The card base is Basic Black. The patterned paper is unknown to me since I received it in a blog candy that I won. I stamped the 'bombshell' from Bombshell Angel onto GP110 white cardstock and colored with Copics and cut her out. I also stamped 2 heart images from Stampin' Up's Always stamp set using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and cut them out. I attached the hearts, then attached the bombshell on top using dimensionals. I attached a length of white organdy ribbon (Offray) to the left side.

If you'd like to play along with this month's challenges, you still have time!!! Here are the "rules":

"VALENTINE" CONTEST GUIDELINES: (CONTEST ENDS JAN. 31, 2010) Your creation can be a card, layout or altered item, but must:

1. use a Bombshell Stamp somewhere

2. project must exemplify either a Valentine or Anti-Valentine theme

3. post a photo of your creation in this thread!

Post your pic in this thread in the Bombshell Stamps' forum! Click "Reply", then click the attachment tab and upload your photo! Then upload your card to the Bombshell Stamps' gallery, and on our Paper Craft Planet (PCP) group. Can't wait to see what you came up with!

Here's what you could win:

Good luck and I can't wait to see what you come up with!!

Blog Award

I want to thank Shelly for honoring me with this blog award. Shelly is part of my new blog group The Glitterbees, as well as another blog group that I'm in called Sweet Dreamers. She is such a fabulous person and a VERY talented stamper! Check our her blog here.

In receiving this award, I am to list 10 things that make me happy, so, here goes:

1. My family.
2. Being with friends.
3. Riding my motorcycle.
4. Chocolate!
5. Having time to stamp!
6. A warm, sunny day.
7. A cuddly kitten.
8. Christmas morning.
9. Sleeping late.
10. Meeting new stampin friends!

Now, I am to pass this award on to 5 other bloggers. Here are the 5, in no particular order, who I would like to have this blog award.

Karli- http://craftingwithclass.blogspot.com/
Linda- http://paynehollercards.blogspot.com/
Trudi- http://trudi-buttonsnbows.blogspot.com/
Carlie- http://carliebugcrafts.blogspot.com/
Cheryl-http://sweeetdesignsbycheryl.blogspot.com/

Each of these ladies are fabulously talented stampers (Carlie is only 11 years old, but, boy, wait till you see her artwork!!!) Their work inspires me and I truly enjoy their blogs and their friendship!

To accept this award, you will need to:

1. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
2. List who gave the award to you and use a link to her blog (or hyperlink).
3. List 10 things that make you happy.
4. Pass the award on to other bloggers and visit their blog to let them know that you've honored them with this award.

I hope you all have a great week!

WOW!! Look at these!!!

At CHA, Sizzix is unveiling brand new alterations texture fades created by Tim Holtz! Take a look at these:

They are sold in sets of 2 and there are 8 different sets for a total of 16 fabulous embossing folders! WOW! Now, I LOVE using my Cuttlebug and I just can't wait to get these! I really love the brickwall and the wood set, but, of course, I want them ALL!! What FUN these will be to play with!!

Helping Haiti

As most of you know, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck near Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince last Tuesday afternoon, collapsing buildings, including at least one hospital. Tens of thousands are feared dead in the largest quake to strike the impoverished Caribbean nation in 200 years. Power is out, telecommunications are spotty and food and water are reportedly growing scarce. Now, this morning a second earthquake, a 6.1-magnitude, struck again.

The school I work at (our local neighborhood school) has started a fundraising effort to help the people of Haiti. Students, staff, and parents are collecting money to help Mercy Corps help those in dire need. Mercy Corps is focusing on the immediate humanitarian needs on the ground — water, food, temporary shelter supplies and much more. As the most basic needs are met, Mercy Corps’ response team will transition from relief to long-term rebuilding and recovery efforts.

If you would like to make a donation, please visit Jacobsville Elementary's fundraising page here.

You may also finds updates on recovery efforts here.

Spotlight on Gracie!!

Hello! Welcome to this week's Tuesday Throwdown! Our challenge this week was to create a background by random stamping. We were also to spotlight Sherrod Studio's set "Gracie".

The card base is SU's Basic Black with a layer of Certainly Celery. I randomly stamped the small flower in Real Red and the One of a Kind sentiment in Certainly Celery to create my background. The Gracie image is stamped onto GP110 white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored using Copics. I then doodled around the edge of the image using my SU Basic Black marker.

Gracie is an adorable stamp set which includes Gracie, a flower, a teddy bear, a single balloon, a bunch of balloons, a small flower, a large flower and quite a few sentiments. One person will win a Gracie stamping package including the Gracie stamp set, embellishments, papers and all sorts of goodies...all you have to do is leave a comment on the Sherrod Studio blog. The winner will be announced on January 26th.

Just a reminder that Sherrod Studio is in the middle of a MEGA SALE! ALL stamp sets are 40% off right now!!!

Now make sure you check out the other Sherrod Studio Design Team members' blogs to see their fabulous creations!!!

Sherrod Studio Business Blog

Ceal Pritchett

Dawn Barrett

Joseline Capre

Kim Sherrod (owner)

Leah Cornelius

Mary Vogel

Tuesday Throwdown

**EDIT** This sketch is from my blog group's bi-monthly challenge. The sketch was created by Tami. Check out the Glitterbee's Challenge Blog here.

I can't believe that it's already Tuesday again! This week, Leah has challenged us to make a card using stitching- either real or faux. Well, since my sewing machine and I don't see eye-to-eye, I thought it best to do the faux stitching. Here's the card I made for this challenge:

The bucket image is from Sherrod Studio's Downhome Blessings set. The image is stamped onto GP110 white cardstock and colored using a combination of SU and Copic markers. The card base is SU's Chocolate Chip, with layers of Bashful Blue and the DPs are "Cheeky" from Making Memories. The ribbon is Offray. The faux stitching is done using a white gel pen.

Don't forget that right now Sherrod Studio is having Mega Sale! ALL Sherrod Studio stamp sets are 40% off!!!

Now hop on over to the other design team members' blogs to check out their stitched creations!
You can find links to their blogs in my sidebar.

What a Blast!

Yesterday I went to the Meade Girls' Shoe Box Swap and boy, what a FUN time we had!!! Amanda did a fabulous job planning the swap! We had great cards to make, lots of delicious food and tons of great friends...with some 'strange' conversations!... to make the day so special! Here are the cards that I made at the swap with the designers' names...(sorry for the crooked scans! It's hard to keep those cards still with buttons and bows!

(left) Michelle (top right) Kathi (bottom right) Tracy

(top left) Sara (top right) Linda
(bottom left) Pete (bottom right) Rose

(top left) Jeaneen (top right) Jill
(bottom left) Linda (bottom right) JoAnn

(top left) Theresa (top right) Paula
(bottom left) Jane (bottom right) Stacy

Gloria
Lynn

I just LOVE going to these swaps! What a great way to try new techniques and use stamp sets that I probably never would have tried otherwise!!! Thanks, again, Amanda, for hosting this swap! I can hardly wait till the next one! There is still one card that I need to make, and one Valentine treat box I'll need to photograph. I will post those a little later.

It's a MEGA Sale!!!

WOO HOO!!! Starting today, Friday, January 8th, ALL Sherrod Studio stamp sets will be ON SALE for 40% off!!!! If you’ve been wanting to pick up a set or two (or three or four!) of these fabulous stamps, THIS is the time to do it!! These stamps are made of high quality polymer and stamp beautifully!! The images are fun and there are many different ‘themes’ to select from. Don’t miss out on this special sale!!! You’ll be sorry if you do!!

Meade Girls' Shoebox Swap

One Saturday, I'll be attending the Meade Girls' shoebox swap. I kept putting it off and putting it off, but today I FINALLY got my card made. Here's what I came up with:

It's a simple card but I really like it. The card base is Basic Black. I took a 4 x 5-1/4" panel of Cameo Coral and embossed in in my Cuttlebug using the Leafy Branch embossing folder. The bird image is from Inkadinkadoo's Birds Galore stamp set and is stamped onto GP110 white cardstock using Black Staz-On. I used SU's markers in Garden Green and Cameo Coral to color the image. I then sponged the edges of the image using Cameo Coral. I attached that to a scrap of Basic Black cardstock. Using the Martha Stewart Branch punch, I punched 3 branches using True Thyme cardstock (a great way to use up old scraps!) and adhered those to the back corner of the image. Then I attached the image panel to the front of the card on a slight angle. I attached a black Prima flower with a gold brad in the center to the upper left corner using a pop dot.

I hope the girls will enjoy making this card.

Tuesday Throwdown!!

Hello, and welcome back!! It's Tuesday and that means it's time for Sherrod Studio's Tuesday Throwdown! The design team was challenged to make a Gate Fold card this week. I had never made one before but it's just SO easy!! I made this card using Sherrod Studio's Rock & Roll set. I think I'll send this one to my soon-to-be 13-year old great nephew. Hopefully it's "manly" enough for him!! :)

(inside)

Here's how to make a Gate Fold card:

1. Cut cardstock to 5-1/2" x 8-1/2". Score at 2-1/8" and 6-3/8". Fold.

2. Cut 2 pieces of coordinating cardstock to 1-7/8" x 5-1/4".

3. Cut 2 pieces of coordinating patterned paper to 1-5/8" x 5".

4. Using monoadhesive, attach the patterned paper strips to the cardstock strips.

5. Adhere one patterned paper panel to the right flap using monoadhesive.

6. Attach a length of ribbon around the remaining patterned paper panel. Adhere panel to left flap.

7. Stamp image of choice onto white cardstock. Cut out oval using Nestabilities.

8. Using the same color cardstock as your card, cut out next larger size oval using Nestabilities.

9. Adhere stamped oval to larger oval.

10. Apply adhesive to left half of the main image's back side. Attach to left flap, making sure that image in centered on card.

Voila! You're done! It really is easy to do. I don't know why I hadn't tried if before.

For this specific card I used Stampin' Up's Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery and GP110 white cardstock. The star patterned paper is unknown. I stamped the image using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and sponged around the edges using Certainly Celery ink. The ribbon is 1/4" Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon. I attached self-stick light green gems around the edge of the oval.

Now that you've seen my take on the Gate Fold challenge, make sure to check out the other Design Team members' blogs. You can find links to their blogs in my sidebar.