Meade Girls' Challenge and Baltimore Swap

This card is pulling a double duty- first of all, the Meade Girls' challenge was to create a Christmas card using non-traditional colors. I thought these colors were pretty non-traditional...Here, I used Basic Black for the card base, then Tempting Turquoise and Pixie Pink for the layers and the snowflakes. I pulled out an old SU set called Snowflakes. This was one of the first SU sets that I bought. I randomly stamped the small snowflakes in turquoise and Pixie Pink on the white panel, then sponged along the edges using Pixie Pink and then layered it onto Turquoise. I stamped the large snowflake in turquoise and again sponged around the edges using Pixie Pink, then layered it Pixie Pink and then Turquoise. I stamped "warmest wishes' from one of the AYC sets in turquoise and then punched it out using the large oval punch. I sponged around the edges and then used pop dots to attach it. Lastly, I applied a clear Dew Drop to the center of the snowflake. Easy peasy!

Tomorrow, I'm going to the Baltimore SBS in Perry Hall and this is the card that I'm taking. I hope the ladies there like it, even if it is simple and 'non-traditional'. I figured this card could be used as a Christmas card, but also as a winter birthday or thinking-of-you-type card.

Hump Day Hop!!

Well, this week's Hump Day Hop challenge really was a challenge for me!! The challenge was to create a card using no layers. NO LAYERS!! Just the card base...in all my years of stamping, I don't think I've EVER made a card without layers! So, I really struggled with the challenge...but, here is what I came up with...

The card base is GP110 white cardstock. I used a large oval template that I found in my wastebasket from where I punched out an oval using my Nestabilities. I stamped the Pirate Girl from Pirate's Life inside the oval. She is colored using Copics. I then sponged around the inside of the oval using Going Gray ink, then doodled around the oval using my SU Basic Black marker. I stamped the "All I want" and "...is you!" sentiments from the Holidays Accessories set in the upper left and lower right corners using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I also used the snowflakes from the Accessories set and stamped all around the oval in Going Gray, then lightly sponged using Bashful Blue. Lastly, I attached red self-stick beads to the corners with the sentiments. I'm not quite sure what I think of this card...but I've decided that layers are my friend!! I missed not having any layers on this card!!!

So...hop on over to the other Bombshell Girls' blogs and see how they fared without using layers. I'm sure they're creations will be fabulous!!

Angela
Kathi
Ms. November - Mary G.
Gabby
Miss Magoo
Lyss
Kas

Tuesday Throwdown!

This week's Tuesday Throwdown challenge is a sketch. Here it is:

...and here is my take on that sketch:

I stuck pretty much to the original sketch. I used the stack of presents image from Sherrod Studio's Ella stamp set. The image is stamped onto GP110 white cardstock and colored using Copic Markers. I then layered it onto Real Red and then Basic Black cardstock. The card base is Basic Black with a layer of Christmas Cocoa DSP. The circle is the reverse side of the DSP layer. The ribbon is 1/4" white grosgrain from SU. The "Merry Christmas" is from Sherrod Studio's Christmas Greetings set. The large black brads are Recollections, the small red brads are from Making Memories. The flower is Prima.

Wanna play along?? Create your card using the above sketch. Post your card to your blog or online gallery using keyword SSTT05, then post a direct link to your card on Sherrod Studio's blog using Mr. Linky. Can't wait to see what you create!!

A Tree for Henry

I just heard about fellow blogger and Pink Cat Studio DT member Sarah Anderson (Sairabee on SCS). Sarah lost her 3-year old son Henry this past Monday. Little Henry was unable to overcome a virus that made him ill last week.

Lorie Ames has organized a way to donate for a memorial for Henry. Henry loved his local zoo and visited it almost every day in the summer. As a memorial, trees will be planted there in his honor. Melissa at Pink Cat Studio has created a digital stamp to help raise funds for a tree for Henry. All proceeds from the sale of the digi stamp, minus Paypal costs, will go towards the tree. If you would like to donate towards the tree, please visit this webpage to purchase the digi stamp: http://www.pinkcatstudio.com/Digital/DigiStamps/Animals/Zoo/GiraffeAndMonkey.htm

Another way to donate to the memorial is to print out this form and mail in your donation directly: http://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/Parks/PDF/MemorialTreePamphlet.pdf
Please write on the form that the donation is for Sarah Anderson’s son Henry. Once all of the money is collected, a tree and location will be selected. If you have questions about the form please contact Lorie Ames. Lorie will be in contact with Sarah along this memorial journey to ensure that her wishes are followed. To contact Lorie, please visit her blog at http://www.live-love-laugh-create.blogspot.com/.

If you don’t know Sarah and would like to learn more about her, please visit her blog: http://scrampinmama.blogspot.com/.

If you would like to send your condolences to Sarah and her family, cards may be sent to:

The Anderson Family

c/o 1130 Oak Street

Martinez, CA 94553

I will miss you...

I just found out today that my senior friend, Miss Laura, passed away on October 25th. She was 95 years old. Her daughter sent me a thank you note and enclosed a copy of her obituary. She thanked me for all of the cards and tokens that I had sent her mother and she said that her mother really enjoyed receiving them. I am glad that I was able to give Miss Laura some enjoyment through my cards and letters, and the small gifts that I sent her. I will miss you, Miss Laura. Rest in peace.

Miss Laura

1914-2009

Hump Day Hop!!

It's November and I'm SO excited to be Ms. November Bombshell!!! I'll be your challenge hostess this month and I hope you enjoy the challenge I've designed for you! First, here are the contest details:

CONTEST GUIDELINES: (CONTEST ENDS NOV. 31, 2009)
The creation can be a card, layout or altered item, but must:
1. use a Bombshell Stamp somewhere
2. use a song as the inspiration for your creation!
3. tag the photo's of your submission with "BSSOCT09", to be entered in the drawing!

To INCLUDE YOUR SUBMISSION you need to have either an album created in the Bombshell Gallery, or a profile on Paper Craft Planet (PCP). Just tag your photo with the code listed above so we can find it and add you to the drawing. You can also show off your card by posting it here on the Bombshell forum. We'd all love to see what you came up with!

The song that inspired me is an old Irish folk song called The Spanish Lady. Here are the lyrics that made me think of using this particular stamp set: As I came back through Dublin city at the hour of half past eight, Who should I spy but the Spanish lady brushing her hair in the broad daylight. First she tossed it, then she brushed it, on her lap was a silver comb. In all my life I ne'er did see a maid so fair since I did roam.

The stamp set that I chose to use is called Lucky Bride by Bombshell Stamps. This card is 5-1/4" square. The card base is SU's Basic Black with layers of Sahara Sand and the flocked DSP from the Christmas Cocoa pack. (It's in the SU Holiday Mini catalog!) The image is stamped onto GP110 white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copic Markers. I used a gold At You Spica pen to outline the fans and the swirls of her veil. I used my oval Nestabilities to cut out the images. I attached a length of white lace (unknown) and gold metallic ribbon (from Michael's) to the left side, then attached red stick-on pearls (from Mark Richards) and pearl stick-on beads (from Hero Arts).

Remember, you also have another way to win!! Visit each of these blogs and leave a comment on each one. The more comments you leave, the more chances you'll have of winning a great prize! Make sure to check out the other Bombshell Design Team members and see what songs they were inspired by!!

Ms. November - Mary G.
Kathi
Glittery Katie
Nicole
Jacquie
Angela
Terra



Thanks for stopping by!!

It's Tuesday Throwdown Time!

I can't believe it's already been a week since our last Tuesday Throwdown. I hope that you ejoyed our color challenge last week and that you had a fun time participating. Okay, here is this week's challenge- and it's a sketch...

What a fun sketch! Here is the card that I made using Kim's great sketch:

I'm really quite pleased with the outcome. I used SU's retired Cranberry Crisp- the last of my stash! :( The designer papers are from PaperTrey Ink's First Fruits Collection. The coordinating cardstock is So Saffron. The pilgrim couple image is from Sherrod Studio's adorable Harvest Blessings set and is stamped in GP110 white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copics then sponged with Cranberry Crisp ink. I used the 1-1/4" square punch to punch out the white squares, then used my paper cutter to cut the Cranberry and Saffron squares. The top square is popped up on dimensionals. The ribbons are from Offray and the stick-on gems are from Bazzill. I love these colors together and the PTI designer papers are fabulous!

Head on over to Sherrod Studio's blog to check out what the rest of the design team has created. Don't forget to play along! Create your card using the above sketch and post it on the SSTT04 thread on the blog using Mr. Linky! Go now and have fun!!

Happy November!!!

Wow, I can't believe that it's already November! Christmas is only 55 days away! Yikes!

Just a reminder of what's coming up this week- on Tuesday check in for Sherrod Studio's Tuesday Throwdown. This week's challenge is a sketch challenge and it's a great one! The design team will have lots of fabulous creations for your inspiration! Kim has some great challenges scheduled for us for this month! PLUS we'll be giving you some sneak peeks at some new releases coming up on November 19th - 21st. Wait till you see these new images!!!! WOW!!

Sherrod Studio is also sponsoring Card Patterns again this week. Hop on over there to see the sketch and have a chance to win a FREE Sherrod Studio stamp set!

Then, on Wednesday come back for Bombshell Stamps' Hump Day Hop- featuring...ME...Ms. November! I will have a great challenge for you to play with and you'll have a chance to win a fabulous prize from Bombshell Stamps at the end of the month!

Whew! This is going to be a really busy month for me, but it's going to be SO much fun!!!
Have a great Sunday and get your creative cap on!!

Card Patterns Sketch #38

Sherrod Studio is sponsoring Card Patterns sketch #38 this week and I thought I'd give it a go. Here's what I came up with.

I used Sherrod Studio's Christmas Greetings stamp set. I used 3 of the different patterned trees in Real Red and Green Galore ink on GP110 white cardstock. I sponged the edges using Green Galore ink and paper pierced along the corners, then placed 2 silver brads on both sides of the image panel. I also stamped Celebrate the Season in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then added a star on top of each tree. The card base is Garden Green and the pattered paper is unknown- it's some I picked up at my LSS's 'yard sale'. The white ribbon is from Offray, the flower is from Irene's Attic, and the Wild Wasabi stitched ribbon is from Stampin' Up.

I hope that you'll give this sketch a try and make sure to post your creation to the Card Pattern's blog using Mr. Linky. You might win some FREE Sherrod Studio Stamps!! Good luck!!

Time for Another Tuesday Throwdown!

This week's Tuesday Throwdown Challenge is a color challenge...we were challenged to create a card using these colors:



SU: Barely Banana, Ruby Red, Creamy Caramel, White or Very Vanilla (neutral color).
CTMH: Buttercup, Cranberry, Brown Bag, White or Vanilla (neutral color).

This is the card that I created for this challenge:

I used Creamy Caramel for the card base, then a layer of Ruby Red which I ran through my Cuttlebug using the Herringbone embossing folder (this is a really cool design! It was the first time that I've used this particular folder!) and a strip of Barely Banana which was also run through the Cuttlebug using the Dotted Swiss embossing folder. I stamped the gingerbread man image from Sherrod Studio's Fresh Baked stamp set ontoVery Vanilla cardstock using Creamy Caramel ink. I cut them out and popped them up using dimensionals. I attached self-stick pearls for buttons. The ribbons are from the Offray Ribbon Outlet (if you've never been- you've GOTTA go!), the flowers are Primas and the gold brads are Recollections from Michael's. I stamped the Warm Winter Wishes sentiment onto Very Vanilla using Memento Tuxedo Black ink, punched it out using the Word Window punch, then sponged around the edges using Creamy Caramel ink.

Now, it's YOUR turn!!! Create a card using the challenge colors and post it to your blog or gallery (if you post to your SCS or PCP gallery, please use keyword SSTT03 so we can find you!). Also post a direct link to your card on the Sherrod Studio Blog using Mr. Linky. We can't wait to see your creations!

Meade Girls' Sketch...and HARDWARE!

Every couple of weeks, my stamping group, the Meade Girls, has a group challenge. This time, it was Tracy's turn and she has challenged us with this sketch:

Her challenge was to use the above sketch, use Morning Sunshine DSP and use hardware. Now, Tracy is a hardware freak, and I say that in a nice way! :) She will use half a pack of brads on one card and think nothing of it...and her cards are BEAUTIFUL! Now, I'm not much of a hardware user- a few brads here and there, but that's about it. I had bought the hardware kit from Stampin' Up a while ago and have hardly used anything out of it. So, this would definitely be a challenge for me.

Since Tracy had provided us with all of the papers that we'd need, there really wasn't much thinking to do, so here is the card that I came up with for her challenge. What do you think?


I used Stampin Up's Happy Together stamp set. I'm actually quite happy with this card, although for some reason, when I scanned the card, the ribbon doesn't match, but in real life it DOES! Anyway, Tracy's challenge was fun and forced me to dig into my hardware kit...now, maybe I'll use it more often! Thanks, Tracy!

Make sure to come back on Tuesday for Sherrod Studio's Tuesday Throwdown and we hope that you'll play along!!! See you then, if not before!!

Thanks for looking!

Win Sherrod Studio Stamps!

Our friends over at Card Patterns are featuring Sherrod Studio Stamps today!!

Our fearless leader, and owner of Sherrod Studio, Kim, is offering to the winner of the challenge....

--FREE 1 Stamp Set of Your Choice ($15.00 value)
(random prize winner will be drawn & announced on Nov 2)

--and FREE SHIPPING from today until Nov 1.

Here's the sketch:

It's easy to join in the fun and have a chance to win!! Just follow these simple rules:

1. Create your take from the sketch above.
2. Post it in your blog and copy the direct URL link of it to the Mr. Linky Box provided on the Card Patterns blog.
3. Deadline for posting your submission is Friday, Oct 30, 2009 at 11:59PM EST.

Check out some fabulous creations made using Sherrod Studio stamps here and then put your creative hats on! I'll be checking back to see what you create! Good luck!!

Tuesday Throwdown- Technique Challenge

For this week's Tuesday Throwdown, Kim challenged the team to create a card using the emboss resist technique. If you've never used this technique, it's really pretty easy. First of all, here is the card that I created for this challenge. I'm really quite happy with how she turned out, since I don't emboss much...

To create the emboss resist panel, I started with a 3-3/4" x 5" piece of white glossy paper. Using a Versamark (or Embossing) pad, I stamped the flower image from the Gracie set onto the white glossy paper, sprinkled with white embossing powder and then embossed using a heat gun. Once cool, I used a sponge to dab on Green Galore, Pixie Pink and Eggplant Envy ink. The ink will not stick to the white embossing. That's all there is to it!

The cardstock used is Pixie Pink, Eggplant Envy and Green Galore. "Gracie" is stamped onto GP110 white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copic markers. Isn't she just the cutest little thing?

Make sure to check out Sherrod Studio's blog to see the other design team member's creations. Now, it's YOUR turn!! Create YOUR emboss resist card and link it to the thread found here using Mr. Linky. We can't wait to see what you come up with!!

Happy Friday!

Can I gripe for a minute? (thank you!) It's COLD! It's been cold, dark, dreary, drizzly all day- actually all day yesterday AND today...and looks like it'll be this way again tomorrow and possibly on Sunday...I'm SO not ready for winter!!

I was off today (furlough day!) so I did a few things around the house and catching up on laundry, but I was able to get one card made. I had borrowed this set- SU's Home for Christmas- from my mom and wanted to try it out. This is what I came up with, although it isn't quite what I had in mind when I started:

Papers are SU's Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, and the new holiday DSP in the holiday mini catalog (I'm SO horrible remembering the DSP's names!). The image is stamped onto GP110 white cardstock using Creamy Caramel and the sentiment is stamped using Riding Hood Red. The ribbon is 1/4" Chocolate Chip grosgrain. The brads are from Recollections. Hope you like it.

I sure hope that you are warm where ever you are! I'm going now to crawl under the blanket out on the couch and watch TV! Hmm- where is that hot chocolate mix??

Tuesday Throwdown!!

Today is the first edition of Sherrod Studio's Tuesday Throwdown- a challenge where everyone can participate and maybe even be a featured artist!! Here is the sketch that Kim provided for us to 'play' with this week:

And here is my take on that sketch:

I used Sherrod Studio's Harvest Blessings stamp set. The card base is SU's retired Cranberry Crisp. Other colors used are Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive. The image is stamped on GP110 white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with a combination of Copics and SU markers. The DSP, which I LOVE, is from the First Fruits Collection by PaperTreyInk. The flowers are Petaloo, ribbons are from Offray, and the green gems are from Bazzill. I really love how this card turned out. It's very fall-like here in Maryland and the trees are starting to turn and I just love these colors and this time of year!!

Make sure to hop on over to Sherrod Studio's blog and see what the other design team members have come up with...and don't forget to play along! You don't have to use Sherrod Studio stamps, but if you do, that's great!!! Post your card to your blog and then post on the Tuesday Throwdown post on the Sherrod Studio blog using Mr. Linky a link directly to your card. Good luck and have fun!!!

Meade Girls' Challenge

Every couple of weeks, the Meade Girls, my stamping group, has a challenge. This time, because she 'won' the last challenge, Jane got to chose what our challenge would be. Well, we went to a shoebox swap a couple weeks ago and one of the cards used a panel made with the shaving cream technique. Jane was SO enamoured with this technique that she challenged us to create a card using the shaving cream technique. I had used this technique many years ago but it was fun to do it again! Of course, with my stamping room being such a mess, I couldn't find all of my reinkers, but I did find two- Pixie Pink and Night of Navy- so, that's what I had to work with...and here is my card:

I had taken pictures of each step while doing the technique so that I could post a picture tutorial, but my camera is acting wonky and won't upload them to my computer...it keeps telling me that they're already uploaded when I KNOW that they're NOT! Anyway, that'll be for another day...I used Sherrod Studio's Ella for the main image. Ella is stamped on GP110 white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copics. I used my Nesties to cut out the main image. All papers are Stampin' Up- Night of Navy, Pixie Pink, white glossy, except for the GP110 on the main image. I used the "One of a Kind" stamp from Sherrod Studio's Gracie stamp set and punched it out using the oval and scallop oval punches. The ribbon is from the Offray Ribbon Outlet. I adhered pink and navy dew drops using Crystal Effects.

I hope that you are having a great Sunday!! It's beautiful here- VERY fall-like! I'm off now to make my soup! Go Ravens!

Good morning!

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth! I've just been a little busy. I do have some stamping to get done today so tomorrow I hope to have something new to share with you. The weather has really turned chilly here and I actually had to turn the heat on...it's definitely SOUP weather, so today I'm stamping, making a big pot of bean and ham soup and getting ready for the Ravens' game.

In the meantime, I do want to let you know about the new weekly challenge that Sherrod Studio will be starting this week. Tuesday Throwdown will be spotlighting Sherrod Studio stamps through sketch challenges, technique challenges...and whatever exciting and fun things Kim can come up with! I hope that you'll stop in on Tuesdays to see the weekly challenge and to check out what the Design Team comes up with. (HINT: the first challenge is a sketch challenge!)
You'll even get to participate in the challenges and maybe be selected as a featured stamper! Make sure to bookmark Sherrod Studio Blog to play along!

See you again soon!

Halloween Treat Holder & Tutorial

It’s World Card Making Day! Sherrod Studios is participating in Paper Craft Planet’s Group Blog Hop today from 6- 7pm! I hope that you'll stop by and check out all of the challenges!!! For Sherrod Studio’s part of the hop, Kim, owner of Sherrod Studio, challenged us to create a treat holder using the All Hallows Eve stamp set. I remembered making these little gum/treat holders a while back for a RAK group that I was in, so I decided to use that idea for this challenge. I had a difficult time getting a really good picture, but I hope you're able to see it well enough here:


Here are the directions to make these little holders:

1. Cut a piece of colored cardstock into a 2-1/2" x 8" rectangle.

2. Score and fold at 2-1/4" and 2-3/8" from both ends.

3. Using the Window Word Punch, punch a slot at one end leaving approximately ½" at end.

4. Cut a 2" square of white cardstock. Stamp images and mat onto another square of coordinating cardstock.

5. Using red tape or mono adhesive, adhere punched end to center of middle section, being careful to only apply adhesive to the space above the slot when folded up.

6. Adhere stamped and matted image to top leaving an overlap of about 1-1/2" to allow for closure. Decorate as desired.

7. Insert gum packet or thin snack-sized chocolate bar into slot. Attach sticky Velcro dots or squares to hold closed.

I used the haunted house image from All Hallows Eve. All papers are from Stampin’ Up- Green Galore, Basic Black and Whisper White. The image is stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored using a combination of Copic and Stampin’ Up markers. Other accessories used: Word Window Punch, sticky Velcro squares, self-stick green gems from Bazzill, antiqued copper brads by Recollections from Michael’s, and Prima Flowers (Halloween collection).

Make sure to check out the other Sherrod Studio Design Team members blogs...the links are in my sidebar to the left!

Bombshell's October Contest!

Jacquie, our fabulous Ms. October Bombshell, will be your challenge hostess this month over at Bombshell Stamps. She has designed a fun challenge for you, and we can't wait to see what you come up with!

CONTEST GUIDELINES: (CONTEST ENDS OCT. 31, 2009)

Your creation can be a card, layout or altered item, but must have:

1. a Bombshell Stamp somewhere
2. use of ORANGE, BLACK, GREEN, and purple is an optional substitution color.
3. tag the photos of your submission with "BSSOCT09", to be entered in the drawing!

OUR FANTASTIC PRIZE PACKAGE INCLUDES:

Bombshell Stamps Sugar Skull & "Bones Font" mounted stamps
Festive printed papers from Crafty Chica
Paper and brad flowers from C Custom Creations
Colorful Toe Tags from C Custom Creations

To INCLUDE YOUR SUBMISSION you need to have either an album created in the Bombshell Stamps’ website Gallery, or a profile on Paper Craft Planet (PCP). Just tag your photo with the code listed above so we can find it and add you to the drawing. You can also show off your card by posting it under the contest thread at Bombshell’s new forum . We'd all love to see what you came up with! Now- start creating!!!

World Card Making Day and PCP Group Blog Hop

The Sherrod Studio Design Team will be participating in Paper Craft Planet’s World Card Making Day group blog hop on Saturday, October 3rd at 6pm. The hop begins at 10am and will continue throughout the day, ending at 10pm EST. There will be lots of fun challenges and giveaways that participants can enter to win. Sherrod Studio will be giving away a prize, so make sure to check out PCP for details! What? You’re not a member of PCP? Well, sign up- it’s free- and make sure not to miss this exciting event! Go NOW and sign up!!!

Also, starting in October, the Sherrod Studio blog will be having a weekly challenge every Tuesday so you’ll want to check out our Tuesday Throwdown challenge and join in the fun!!!