Yippee, VC Rocks is back for the Summer.  I really miss it during the Winter because I tend to forget I have a blog and don't post at all - so this group is good for me!  Plus, I really miss my friends here as we all get busy with life when our group is closed.

Welcome to our 2013 VC Rocks Blog Hop for May.  I didn't have the opportunity to post for our "warm-up" hop in April due to being ill, but I'm back ......

Our theme this month is Hostess Gifts.  Although I am a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, I really don't do workshops but rather invite a few people to my home every so often to have fun creating with my new toys.  So I don't really give hostess gifts but do enjoy making projects to give as gifts and for other purposes.  Let's face it, my "basically lazyness" is in effect for my stamping too ... and as you know, for me anyway, it's hard to do much when you're basically lazy ....

Anyway, what I am posting for May is a little project I made for a friend who was hosting a bridal shower for her daughter-in-law.  I made about 60 of these delightful purses for a bridal shower and she put candy in  each one.  They were so much fun to make!!  And you know how much I love using my Mr. Big Shot!!!

 

I used the Petite Purse Bigz Die with my Big Shot along with the following supplies: cardstock: Primrose Petals and the retiring Lucky Limeade;  the Designer Paper is Sunshine and Sprinkles in our current Mini Catalog which is available until May 31st.  I punched out 4 flower shapes with the Itty Bitty Shapes punch. I added pearls from our Pearl Basic Jewels in the center of each flower.  As you can see, the Designer Paper has umbrellas in numerous colors and the reason I used the cardstock I did is because it is the bride-to-be's fave colors, so that was easy.  In fact, the entire project was so easy to make and really didn't take too long either.  These purses are small but will hold many different items - they are great for birthdays too!  And kids love them 

I hope you enjoy these little purses - they measure about 3" wide, 2" high (plus handle) and 1 3/8" deep. Be sure to go back to our VC Rocks website to see what's next for you to peruse - we have so many talented gals in our group and I am excited to see what they create this month.  So be sure to check http://vcrocks.blogspot.com/ to see what's up next for your enjoymment.  

Have fun being creative in whatever way you enjoy most.  

God Bless, Sassy Shirley 

Welcome to our very last VC-Rocks Blog Hop 2012     

Our theme this month is "Punches, Big Shot and Simply Scored".  I want to take this opportunity to thank our coordinator Loni Holt for organizing our monthly hops and trying to keep us in line.  Huge THANX for all your time and energy.

This month, it is my pleasure to be stop #2 (or 3 counting our home blog).  I just love doing these blog hops!   We always start our Blog Hops at our home blog at www.vcrocks.blogspot.com …. Anytime you get lost, just go back there and find your next stop.   If you are following our hop list,, you stopped here after visiting Tania at her www.somethingtoscrapabout.blogspot.com  - she is so creative.

I realized while preparing for this weekend's Blog Hop that I have not posted since our last hop.  I have no idea how life gets so busy for this retiree, but it seems like I don't have time for some of the fun things I like to do, such as keep this blog updated.  It's not that I am not making cards, etc., I just forget to take pix before I send them out.  I just bought a new camera so hopefully that will remind me to take the pix and post much more often ... but I can't promise .... Guess I need to join another group during the rest of the year to be sure I post at least monthly!  There are plenty out there for me to join (if accepted).

My card today uses a LOT of Big Shot products and a punch too .... It was a fun card to make and shame on me, I did make 2 others but sent them out before I took pix.  I CASED a card by Renee O on SCS and changed it a bit to make it 'me' .... anyway, here's my creative bit for today.

I used Whisper White for the base, added a layer of Raspberry Ripple, a new In-Color this year.  I love that we have the In-Colors for 2 years - it is hard to lose some fave colors every year ..... but getting the new colors helps make up for it.  I just cannot make myself get rid of the retired colors, so they are overtaking my stamp cave ... you know, inks, papers, markers, and lots and lots of Designer Specialty Papers - boxes and boxes of them, in fact.  One of these days I will NEED just that special DSP I have been saving and since it can't be replaced, I tend to want to keep it.  Sorry, off topic ... 

My next layer is a strip of White that has been embossed with Delicate Designs Embossing Folder and trimmed with the Large Scallop Framelit.  Then I added a piece of Orchard Harvest DSP from our brand new Holiday Catalog.  By the way, our current mini is no longer a mini, it is like a small catalog, packed full of wonderful new playthings that I just have to own!!!  So my latest personal order was mainly from the Holiday Catalog.  Oops, did it again .... okay, back on subject now ....  on top of the DSP, I added Raspberry Ripple and Whisper White Labels Framelits that I pierced using the Paper Piercing Pack from the Holiday Catalog - how cool and the holes are perfect (not like when I tried to do it myself for sure!)  Then I added a Raspberry Ripple Bitty Banner Framelit piece and White piece I stamped 'Just for You' from the Just Believe stamp set.  I cut both the straight labels then trimmed down the Raspberry Ripple piece so it was not so long.  On top of the White pieces I added Raspberry Ripple butterflies cut with the new Elegant Butterfly Punch - a few Pearls on the butterflies and edge of the embossed white piece finished my card.  The butterflies were attached at the body part with Mini Glue Dots after folding up the wings a bit.  

I really cannot believe how much I use my Big Shot - seems like every card or project I make means using it .... I just love it!!  If you are in my area of Michigan and would like to play with my Big Shot, let me know.  I have been thinking about starting up classes and workshops once again.  

Thank you for visiting - leave a comment and let me know what your favorite color would be for this card, and I will draw a name, make the card just for you and send it on.  I will do the drawing on Monday afternoon or evening.  

Okay, get ready .... your next stop is Jackie's blog at  http://jackielwatson.blogspot.com    - I peeked and I know you will love her card - she used  the new Textured Impressions Embossing Folder - I have it, I love it,  but have not used it yet ... now I am inspired to make some Christmas cards!  And don't forget that you can always go back to our home page at www.vcrocks.blogspot.com anytime .... we don't like it or plan it, but things happen and sometimes our links don't work.  

Again, thanx for stopping by .... I hope you have enjoyed our hops this summer.  May God bless each and everyone of you!!!   Hugs, Sassy Shirley

Here is a complete list of all 19 bloggers this month:

Michelle McCarthy on our home blog – www.vcrocks.blogspot.com  

Tania Brzovic   www.somethingtoscrapabout.blogspot.com  

Shirley Northey    www.stampershirley.blogspot.com

Jackie Watson   http://jackielwatson.blogspot.com 

Janice Heighway   www.stampingwithjanice.com

Shari Dudek    www.sharisstamppad.blogspot.com

Elizabeth Kratzer    www.elizabethsstamproom.blogspot.com

Robin Messenheimer    www.robinscraftroom.com

Gwyn Crawford     www.mustlovestampin.blogspot.com

Carey Rogers    www.pedstamperstampingtreehouse.blogspot.com

June Reister    www.junescreations.blogspot.com

Brenda Hugar    www.brendasstampingcorner.blogspot.com

Jane Hignite    www.stampwithjane.com

Mary Jo Price-Williams    www.technostamper.blogspot.com

Barb Furlong    www.theloveofstamping.blogspot.com

Karen Gibson    www.kraftingwithkaren.blogspot.com

Mary Campbell    www.mimitojett.blogspot.comm

Tricia Butts    www.triciastampingcreations.blogspot.com

Loni Holt     www.loniholt.blogspot.com

It's time for our July Blog Hop!!!!

Yippee ... VC-Rocks July Blog Hop is here!!!!! 

Once again, it is time to find my way into my stamp cave, dust off my stamp pads and get creative.  I love to stamp and use my creative juices, but I just get busy and lazy.  So I am always glad when I get pushed a bit. This month's theme is Hostess Gifts or other non-card items.

You may be arrived here from Elizabeth's blog at  http://www.elizabethsstamproom.blogspot.com/  - such talent!!  Or you may have just stopped by my blog - in which case, I apologize for not being better at posting more often.  It's that's old busy/lazy syndrome, you know ..... OR ... you can go to our home blog at www.vcrocks.blogspot.com at any time to find the complete list of bloggers this month.  Remember that we also have a blogger on our home page so don't miss it!

For my project this month, I chose this Brag Book.  I love making and giving these little photo albums -so easy and your options are wide open as for decorating, depending on the occasion. This one was made for a friend who is in the hospital so she can keep pictures of  her family close by.

 

Above is the front and below is the inside.

Here are the particulars on making these yourself.  If I can help you with supplies at any time, be sure to call me.  I love being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and love all the choices of materials to use for indulging in my fun times. 

Clear Envelope Brag Book    (I got this SCS, made by Corinne Somerville)

Supplies:

4 3/4" x 9 1/4" piece of cardstock for back and spine of book

4 3/4" x 6 1/4" piece of cardstock for front of book

Additional cardstock or patterned paper  and accessories  to decorate                                    

Paper cutter with scoring tool

1/16" handheld circle punch                                              

Clear Envelopes (SU #102619)

Brads

Sticky Strip™ (SU #104294)

Decorate as desired – for my project, I used:   Cardstock: Midnight Muse (love this new In-Color), Rich Razzleberry, More Mustard, Old Olive;  Language of Friendship stamp set,   Accessories:  Scallop Circle, Extra Large Oval and Itty Bitty Shapes Punches; Rich Razzleberry Brads from Brights collection; Pearls Basic Jewel for the bird’s eye

Step-by-Step Directions

Step 1: Score your 4 3/4" x 9 1/4" piece of cardstock at 1" and 2" on the 9 1/4" side.

Step 2: Fold your cardstock over at the 2" score mark. This will form the spine of your book.

Step 3: Apply Sticky Strip™ to the end of the front panel.

Step 4: Adhere the 6 1/4" x 4 3/4" piece of cardstock (your front cover) to the exposed Sticky Strip™.   Step 5: Peel the plastic lining of your clear envelope seal, line the envelope up with the back of your book and tape down. Layer all envelopes on top of each other.  Five envelopes were used here. The envelopes will serve as page protectors for your photos.

Step 6: Use your hole punch to make holes for your brads. You can use your thumb as a ruler on both ends.  The punch will go through both all the cardstock and envelopes with no problem

Step 7: Attach your brads.     Variation: Eyelets and ribbon can be used here instead of brads.

Step 8: Decorate brag book to whatever theme that will hold your photos.

I include one of SU’s clear cellophane bags so if it can be used in a purse, etc. without damaging it.  Another option, depending on the accessories you use, would be to cover it with clear contact paper.

Hope you enjoy this month's project - let me know what you decide to create and sometime before our next month's blog hop I will draw for a prize (yet to be determined, but I've been busy cleaning out my stamp cave so have lots of items that are moving out!  

Your next stop on this month''s Blog Hop is Brenda at http://brendasstampingcorner.blogspot.com/ - I love checking out lots of blogs as often as I can!  And remember, if at any time you hit a snag or get lost, you can always go back to our group's Blog and find the next stop.  We don't like it, but problems do arise and sometimes our blog links just do not cooperate. 

God Bless you all ..... Hugs, Sassy Shirley