Sketch Challenge

Happy April Fools Day! Don't let anyone pull one over on you today!

It's time for another Demo Sketch Challenge on SCS. You, however, can play along too! I'll post the sketch below and my layout based on the sketch. As usual, I have to make changes, so I took a couple of liberties with the sketch. Never mind that I drew the sketch ... when I started working with the photos, there were a few things I just had to work around.



Here is the sketch:





If you play along, post on SCS or on your blog and link here in the comments. I'd love to see what everyone comes up with!



This is my layout based on the sketch. You've seen these photos before:

You can also view it in my gallery at SCS by clicking HERE. Sometimes the gallery picture is a better quality than blogger -- but it's the same picture! Isn't that weird? Must say something about the processing of photos by blogger.

Well, if you try it out be sure to let me know. I wanna see!

happy stampin'

Susan

Interesting ...

I found this on Cheryl's blog and I was curious to find out what color I am. I think it's a fairly accurate picture of me too. Try it and find out what color you are, then come back and link in the comments so we can all see.

you are seagreen #2E8B57

Your dominant hues are cyan and green. Although you definately strive to be logical you care about people and know there's a time and place for thinking emotionally. Your head rules most things but your heart rules others, and getting them to meet in the middle takes a lot of your energy some days. Your saturation level is higher than average - You know what you want, but sometimes know not to tell everyone. You value accomplishments and know you can get the job done, so don't be afraid to run out and make things happen. Your outlook on life can be bright or dark, depending on the situation. You are flexible and see things objectively.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

Die Cut Blooms + Rub-ons

I've been playing around with new Stampin' Up! products again. Actually - I was playing with these about 2 weeks ago ... but I haven't shared here yet, so I am pretending like it's new!

I made this card to participate in a Paper Piercing challenge on SCS. You can CLICK HERE to see all the submissions for the challenge to use piercing on a card. Some are quite fancy!

The mug has rub-ons added to it. It's cute, especially if you wanted to use the mug as a gift holder. I'm not sure I would do another mug with rub-ons because I don't think they will be permanent, especially after being washed. It's cute, but that's about it. I was hoping the rub-ons would be permanent ... but it was worth a try.

all images © 1990-2008 SU!

A closer look (below) at the piercing around the card. Stampin' Up! has a wonderful little Mat Pack template that works beautifully for piercing or spacing eyelets and brads, etc. It allows you to quickly make your marks and keep them even - that's a huge plus!

all images © 199-2008 SU!

I also like the additional texture piercing gives cardstock. It takes it a step beyond plain, yet it can still be subtle.

happy stampin'
Susan

I'm back with a card share ... finally!

Sorry for the silence! It's just been crazy here. My mother has been in & out of the hospital for 4 weeks now. Yesterday we moved her to a rehab facility to help her continue to improve. We are hoping she can return home - but the Dr. isn't being very optimistic. Let me just say, it's been more than stressful!

This card share is from our March Stamp Camp. It uses a set from Sale-a-Bration, which is no longer available. But I believe you can easily adapt the saying by using a different stamp. You can't actually see the stamping anyway -- but on the inside of the note it reads "Hello." We used a turquoise marker to omit the "s" on the end of "Hellos" and stamped. Then we stamped the envelope to read "Have a great day" using the same marker omission technique.

The letter is a Sticky Cut Letter - which just loves to stick to anything, especially cosmo glitter. I have to say ... this card is absolutely adorable in person. The photo looks good, but the card is over the top. I think anyone would love to receive this in the mail or attached to a package.

all images © 1990-2008 SU!

The colors are really all turquoise even though the letter h appears more blue in the photo. The card is a Stampin' Up! Scallop Note card. I dyed the taffeta ribbon to match. If you missed my video below be sure to check it out. I wanted to show you how I dry my ribbon in a hurry!

I still haven't drawn a name for the blog candy. I wasn't home much at all with my mother's problems, so I am extending the candy until later this week. Go comment on THIS POST to win.

happy stampin'

Susan

It's Spring!

Yes, I realize I missed blogging about spring on the first official day - which was yesterday - but better late than never! Things are beginning to bloom and turn green. Spring is probably my favorite season - then fall. Summer - eh, it's hot!

This weekend is also Easter! And I made a little Easter card just for fun! My kids are too old to dye eggs now - so I had to make an Easter egg of my own.

It's not easy to see in the photo, but I used a technique called Cuttlebug Smoosh {I think - if I have it wrong, comment me and I'll correct it} where you ink up the C'bug embossing folder. It leaves ink in the depression of you paper. I used white craft ink and then embossed it with clear ep - so the egg has a bit of a shine to it. It's actually cool because the raised areas do not have embossing, so they are matte - just adds a little different look. After I made it I thought a little glitter would have been really neat ... but I didn't go back and try to add it. Someone special is getting this Easter card in the mail.

Here are photos of one of our {many} cats enjoying the spring morning. Isn't he a beautiful kitty? Look at his elegantly curled tail - ha!

Yes, I'm talking about you Mr. Kitty.

Don't forget there is blog candy being offered a couple of posts down. Just comment me and I'll draw a name Sunday.

happy stampin'

Susan

Rainy Day

Saturday was a rainy day, which is really great because we need the rain so bad. The best thing is that the rain held off enough for Lane to play soccer. I sat in the car with my camera trying to sneak a few pictures. This is one of my favorites:


The reason I was sitting in my car was so he wouldn't notice me taking pictures. He's a teenager, you know! Finally I ventured out when the drizzle stopped and managed to get a few more action shots.

Our team won 7 - 3, I think. There was some discussion about the score between our boys, but we think that is the correct one. The team is 2-0 and at this point they feel no one can beat them. Well, we'll see what happens next week!

Oh yes ... there is a new Stampin' Up! promotion. Order specific stamp sets and get the coordinating wheel FREE! Click the Promo link over there ----> in the margin for details!

happy stampin'

Susan

Thankful

I need to take a moment today. Talk about a grateful heart! I am so thankful that God watches over us and protects us at every turn - even when we don't know it God is protecting us. Yesterday, after I got to work I heard a loud bang outside - my husband (who had just dropped by to see me) said it sounded like a car backfired just outside the windows. Well, we looked and no cars were out there, except mine.

When I got ready to leave work last night, my front tire was flat. I called my hubby to come pick me up and when he got there he said, "Come look at this!" My tire had blown out! There was a huge gaping hole in the side of the tire.

Now - things like that happen, I know. But here is the part I am so thankful for: I had gone to visit my mother at the rehab hospital yesterday afternoon, so going to work I was driving on I-85 at 70 mph. My work is only a few miles off the interstate. Had my tire blown while I was on the interstate it could have caused a terrible accident. I can't imagine what could have happened if that front tire had blown at 70 mph on a busy interstate. I may not have been typing this today ... or any day.

I am so thankful to God for protecting me and keeping me safe. His blessings are many!
This is the passage that came to mind this morning:

Exodus 15: 1-17, "Then Moses and the children of
Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: "I will sing to
the Lord, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He
has thrown into the sea! The Lord is my strength and song, And He
has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My
father's God, and I will exalt Him. "

happy stampin'
Susan

This is so much fun!

WHEW! I have been trying to get this video to post since FRIDAY! ugh. I don't know if the problem was blogspot or me! I have a hunch it was on my end ...

I am (was) preparing for stamp camp tonight and wanted to take a minute to share a really fun tip about dying ribbon. I love ribbon! I especially love Stampin' Up! taffeta ribbon because it is soft, supple and easy to dye. Tonight, at stamp camp, we are using Ivory taffeta ribbon dyed with Tempting Turquoise reinker. If you are impatient like me, it's hard to wait on anything to dry. So I found a great way to speed up the process. The only supplies you need are a coffee mug and a heat gun. Take a lookie:

Now, isn't that fun? The mug and heat gun make a very tiny tumble dryer for the ribbon. It dries quickly. Try it next time you have ribbon to dye.

AND - don't forget the BLOG CANDY in the post below!!!

happy stampin'

Susan

Sketch Challenge for March 15

There is another sketch challenge up today in the demo forum of SCS. The sketch is above, and my layout is below. Feel free to play along - you don't have to be a demo to play along with us!

I have no idea why ... but the layout is actually clearer in my gallery on SCS. CLICK HERE TO VIEW. Go figure!

If you have a membership to SCS, you can upload your sketch there and link it here in the comments so we can take a lookie! SCS memberships are FREE - so if you don't belong yet - what are you waiting for? Get over there and sign up! There are tons of great ideas waiting on you!!





Supplies: Wild Wasabi, Real Red, Whisper White cs, Cutie Pie Designer paper, Pretties flower kit, rhinestone brads and clear button.



happy stampin'
Susan

RAK blessing

I have a good friend who is going through a rough time. She recently had a birthday and received 42 cards through a RAK request on the ClubScrapChat.com forum. It was such a blessing for her! I have tried to thank everyone who participated, but just know this ... if you have ever participated in a RAK you were a blessing to that person whether you ever heard from them again or not.

Here are the cards she received. Isn't that just fantastic?

Several were from Canada, and the Netherlands. She was just blown away, as was her mother. She saved all the envelopes so she could remember where the cards came from. A couple of people even enclosed small gifts. Thank you if you participated, it was a beautiful thing to do.

happy stampin,

Susan

Sharing + Blog Candy!

I've been MIA! It's been really busy at my house lately, too busy, and that's the reason I haven't blogged. I'll try to make that up to you today by offering a bit of blog candy at the end of this post.

My mother has been in the hospital following a fall at home. She is now in a rehab facility for physical therapy. My mother-in-law was able to come home from the hospital after a 4 1/2 week stay! And, finally, dd had her wisdom teeth surgically removed this week - so she has been a sleeping beauty in the recliner for 2 days {so far}. Whew - thank goodness this week is spring break for dd and me.

The card I'm sharing today was actually made the other week for the CPS 54 sketch challenge (click to see the sketch). I just didn't have time to photograph it and share that week! So, better late than never, right? The colors are a bit off - it is pink and green, but when I try to adjust the color the green goes yellow, so I left it alone.

The original sketch challenge had an additional component of making a baby card ... I ignored that part as you can see! Actually, I didn't read the posting, I just looked at the sketch and knew I would be able to use the Nestabilities to make a scallop card so off I ran!

It's not the greatest card, I readily admit. I wanted to use more of the Rock Star paper by DCWV - which, I find terribly difficult to use - so this card is what I came up with. The center image is flocked. I stamped HB with a Stampin' Up! set and the felt flower & brad is also from SU!. I think it will suffice just fine for a teenager or young adult birthday card. What do you think?

Now on to our blog candy: Three (3) dimensional sticker sets from EK Success!

In order to enter for the drawing, please leave a comment here doing one of two things:

1. Sharing a link to a card you made using any CPS sketch or

2. Share a link to any project made using Rock Star or Stampin' Up products!

Make sure you sign in or leave your contact information so I can reach you if you are the winner.

Thanks for reading and ...

happy stampin'

Susan

Artist in residence

A recent layout of my youngest son drawing -- actually, inking to be exact. He loves comics and drawing. At one time he wanted to be a comic artist, but now I think he wants to be a writer. I wanted to use these photos in a layout to document this stage in his life -- and those curls! In the layout, I included a photo of his bulletin board that is covered in his drawings.





The title was cut with Cricut cartridge Base Camp. I didn't plan on using the negative image of the word "artist" but after I cut it I thought it looked kind of neat, so I kept the letters and used the negative image instead.


The paper is Rock Star by Die Cuts with a View or DCWV. I found a pad on clearance at Michael's. It's funky enough for layouts of my teenagers. I don't find the Rock Star papers the easiest to use, for instance ... see the Griffin? It's so cool. The image is raised and flocked and I didn't want to cover it up -- but it's large and uses a lot of space on the page. I finally decided I could cover some of it with the title and still keep the overall image in tact.


With 3 photos and the Griffin, I didn't have room left for journaling so I ran it around the photos, keeping it short and sweet. Not easy, but in the end I like the way it turned out.


If you have used the Rock Star papers, send me a link so I can see how you've used it. I could handle a few good ideas to case!!


happy stampin'
Susan

Where are you headed?

Me? I'm off to the Future!

I love this road sign. It is my absolute favorite thing on I-85 -- just outside of Charlotte. Don't you just want to take that exit and see where you end up? {and from the looks of the skid marks, someone must have had an epiphany at just this spot} I mean, really, it's the Future baby!

Usually I am driving, so I can't get a photo. But the other week when my hubby picked me up from the airport, I had my camera ready. I took this photo while speeding down the interstate at probably 70 mph. Not bad, huh? I think I have to scrapbook this one. It has so many possibilities.

until next time,

Susan

ps - just in case my children are reading: epiphany = a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.

Scrapbook Challenge on SCS

There is a new challenge over at SCS - it's set up to help demos, but feel free to play along at home! It's a scrapbook challenge and here is the sketch for March 1:




Here is my layout. Notice I only made one page, using the left side of the sketch. I used a retired Creative License Simply Scrappin' Kit.

all images copyright SU! 1990-2008

If you are a demo, hop on over to the Demo Talk Forum for all the details. If you're playing from home, and have a gallery at SCS, please upload your layouts and post in the comments here so I can go take a peek!

happy stampin'

Susan

before and after

Ok, I finally took a new photo of the scallop square card! I'm going to show you the before photo so you don't have to scroll down to that post; and the after. Let me know what you think.

Before:

After:

The only difference is that I embossed the scallop flower in the center. Since the card was finished, and pulling it apart would mean starting all over again, I decided to try my Versamarker pen. It worked! I went over the inked area with the Versamarked and sprinkled clear embossing powder over the area. I was worried that I may have missed some areas, but after heating the ep, it looks like I got most of the image. yay!

happy stampin'

Susan

card with rub ons

Stampin' Up! is offering rub-ons for the first time. I really love rub-ons, much more than stickers. Of course, I love my stamps more ...

Anyway, there is a set of rub-ons available FREE through the Sale-a-Bration promotion. This is a wonderful way to try them out and see how you like working with them. I made this card entirely with cardstock and rub-ons, and ribbon. No stampin' allowed!



What do you think? I love the look of this card, simple, yet appropriate for many different occasions. Using the rub-ons make the process fast too. No stamps to clean, or ink pads to hunt down.

Supplies:
SU Cardstock: Kraft, Confetti white
Die: Nestabilities scallop circle
SU accessories: black gingham ribbon, rub-ons

happy stampin'
Susan

scallop square card

Another scallop card for you today! This is made with the Nestabilities square scallop die. The embossing shows up well in this photo. These dies cut, then emboss cardstock. It's so cool! I love the finished look of an embossed edge.



This is the first photo of my card. After looking at it and asking for suggestions, I went back and embossed the flower with clear ep using my Versamarker pen. It made a huge improvement in the overall look of the card. I have not taken a new photo yet. If I get a good photo that shows the embossing well, I will post it too so you can compare.

The ribbon is SU taffeta dyed with ruby red reinker. It came out a pink-ish color, but I still like it.
I used vanilla cardstock for the card base, ruby red for the scallop behind the flower. The inks are ruby red - stamped off once, and cameo coral. The flower center is a blue rhinestone brad.

happy stampin'
Susan