December Blog Hop is here!!!!

I am so excited to be back again for our December SUStars Blog Hop!!!  And I am very excited to see what everyone has been creating for this event!  If you started here because you are my friend, great!!!  If you want to start at the beginning, you can go to our main blog at http://www.SU-Stars.blogspot.com ... or you may have come here from Veronica's blog - Bluegrass Stamper Studio at http://bluegrassstamperstudio.blogspot.com/ ... what a creative gal she is!    


I love Christmas - mainly because we celebrate the birth of the Christ Child, but also because people are, well, nice ... at least for the most part.  I have been busy making cards (check out Thursday's blog post) and have mine stamped now, just need to get them signed and the envelopes ready - all 157 of them!  My goal every year is to have them all made and addressed by Thanksgiving - whew, made that goal again!  Was not sure I would after making 200 for a friend, but it sure feels great to have them almost ready to mail. 


For this blog hop, I made some cards and a cute Gift Card Holder.  


I got this idea from a post from Glenda Calkins and changed it a bit.  We all need gift card holders especially this time of year, so I try to have several ready to use.  

  

I used Rich Razzleberry and Wild Wasabi, two of my fave colors (do I say that about all the colors we have??)  The measurements are:  7 1/2" x 5 1/2", including the punched edge.  The band is 1 1/2" x 06 1/2", Eyelet Border punched, then added a Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch strip and Scallop Circle Punch with the smaller ornament from Snow Swirled.  In the center of the circle is a brad ... I don't have any Rich Razzleberry brads left (a customer needed all I had for a project) so I took a silver brad, dipped in Versamark, then Rich Razzleberry Ink then Clear Embossing Powder and heat embossed - repeated this several times until it had the color I needed.  That's a great way to get any color brad you need!

When I was trying to decide what to make, I realized that I have lent out several of my current stamp sets which limited my choices .... but I am always happy to help my friends and customers with any supplies I have. 

My first two cards use our beautiful double-sided Designer Paper, Jolly Holiday.  I just love our Designer Papers - so many color combinations and I always have just the right colors and patterns for my projects.  

   

Along with the Jolly Holiday Designer paper, the colors I used are Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive - don't they look great together!  I decided to show you how cards look when we do them very simple as compared to one more busy - which do you prefer?  Personally, I like the simpler cards better.  I would have added a sentiment at the top, but all my current Christmas sentiments that I wanted to use are lent out so I will add it later.  

I saw this idea on Splitcoast, I think .. using the tree from Lovely As A Tree for branches.  I embossed them in white along with one of the ornaments from Delightful Decorations on Cherry Cobbler cardstock .. and then I realized that I must have lost my hanger from Tree Trimmings set, so I used a stem from another set and embossed that (sorry it's crooked), then added the 5/8" Whisper White Organza Ribbon on the corners.  It just seemed to need something, you know.  

Hope you enjoyed a look at my blog, and be sure to visit Raissa's blog at  www.raissastamps.com  ... and remember, if you get lost or have a problem, you can always go back to our home base   http://www.SU-Stars.blogspot.com  and find the next stop.  

As always, take care and God Bless, Sassy Shirley

Stampin' Up! is on sale ...

Blog hop coming this weekend - right here!!  

Be sure to come back and see what's happening!

Hey, has everyone heard about the awesomely awesome Simply Amazing Stampin' Up! recruiting special for only November 15-30, 2010 ... here's the details - give me a call right away to get started yourself!  This is definitely an unbeatable deal!!!!

 Simply Amazing!  

Demonstrator Starter Kit for 50 percent off!

What do you call it when you get over $310 in crafting and business supplies for only $87.50? You can call it an amazing deal, but we're calling it an amazing opportunity! From November 15-30, you can purchase either our Standard or Digital+ Starter Kits at 50 percent off the regular retail price of $175 (plus free shipping!), and enjoy these great benefits as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.

• Earn additional income while sharing creativity.
• Make new and lasting friendships.
• Enjoy access to nearly unlimited creative ideas.
• Receive a free subscription to our exclusive monthly magazine.
• Receive free two-month subscription to your own business website.
• Opportunity to earn free products and incentive trips. 

Both the Standard Starter Kit and the Digital + Kit are available at this amazing price! The standard kit includes a variety of paper crafting products, and the Digital + Kit is a great option to showcase both traditional crafting products and our exciting digital design software, My Digital Studio.

This irresistible offer is only available until November 30, 2010, so give me a call or send me an email right away ...  before it's too late!   If you want to grow your own business or just support your own stamping habit, this is the time!!   Shirley Northey 989-729-0164 or stampershirley@charter.net  


Well, I have been so busy  --- making Christmas cards!  A friend asked me if I would make some cards for her ... I had to think about it for a bit because I do not have my own cards done yet.  Anyway, we went thru all my Christmas stamps, current and retired, she chose the stamps she liked for this year.  So here are her cards I made, and she wanted 50 of each - that's 200 cards.  So now they are done and delivered - so I can make my own cards, and my goal is always to have them made and addressed by Thanksgiving ... guess I better get busy!  Good thing I love to stamp and make cards, huh!!!

                         

All the supplies are Stampin' Up except the star border punch and I do love this retired nativity stamp!  These cards are 4 that I made for myself when I did hers - I still love these retired colors from several years ago (Forest Foliage and Baroque Burgundy) but I used Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Night of Navy and Glossy White cardstock for her cards. I embossed the tree and nativity scene in white and the tree stamp is from our beautiful Snow Swirled set, which is available in our catalog.

Hope you enjoy these cards ... just so you know, I did ask if I could post these cards to my blog and she said yes.  

Remember our SUStars Blog Hop starting on Saturday morning - you will get a LOT of great ideas for Christmas and other Winter holiday cards and projects - I have my projects all ready to post and I am so  excited to see what everyone created!!!  

Till then, take care and God bless you, Shirley 

Happy Blog Hop Weekend

Whoo hoo .... SU Stars October Blog Hop is here!!!!

Welcome, welcome, welcome ... Happy Fall. y'all ... and here we all are once again, sharing our projects with you! I hope you enjoy our creations ... you may have come here from Nancy's blog at http://www.fancynancykay.blogspot.com  (don't you just love what she does with paper and ink!!) ... or you may be starting with me (because you like to regularly see what I am up to), in which case you will either want to follow all the stops until you make the rounds back to me, or you may want to go to our website at http://www.SU-Stars.blogspot.com  and start from the beginning. Whatever way you decide on, make sure you leave comments - we all love to read what you think about what we have created.

This month's theme is Thanksgiving OR Thanks ... so I did both. The story behind the post-it-note holder is this: I was using mine from my purse at a restaurant, a gal sitting at the nearby table saw it and asked me where I got it. Of course I told her I made it, and she asked me to make her a few. Well, I ended up making 27 for a luncheon she was hosting .... when I gave them to her, I included a thank you card - and she wanted me to make 27 of them for her friends too. Whew ... and I even got them done in time to get ready for our trip!

Yes, we are on our way to Disney World for a week - I will of course be checking in on all the blogs participating in the hop while there - can't miss that! Whatever did we do before cell phones, laptops, IPods, etc., etc. Hard to remember sometimes what we did way back then!

Anyway, on to my projects ... I used our Autumn Spice designer paper, cardstock was Old Olive, More Mustard, Cajun Craze and Very Vanilla or Confetti White ... first is my post-it-note holder - fun to make, fun to use and make great little gifts too.

I made two different cards for her since I was running low on the Autumn Spice paper that she liked the best. These are Criss-Cross Pocket cards - love the pull out card to write on - also fun to make and give!  The most efficient way to make these is to use both sides of coordinating designer paper instead of using the same print ... but my customer wanted it like this, so ... I cut and adhered strips of c/s on the edges to set it off.  There are sooooo many ways to make this card different! 

 

I hope you enjoy these projects ... the lady was very happy and said she will order more for Christmas for another dinner she hosts ... glad I put my info on the back, hope this means additional business for me!

Now your next stop is Raissa's blog at http://www.raissastamps.com/     And, if you get lost or find broken links somewhere, you can always go back to our website at http://www.su-stars.blogspot.com/  and find the complete list.   Don't you just love these creative and talented ladies taking part in our blogs!!

Everyone take care, be good to others, and I will try to post more frequently - I just get busy with life and forget it, know what I mean??!!

God Bless you all, Shirley

Your thought for the day:  God is never late, but always on time.  Remember, His Will, His Way, His Time ...

I sew, too ...

Just in case you think all I know how to do is stamp, surprise!  I love to sew, especially dresses, etc. for my granddaughters - don't do enough of it, but I do enjoy it.  This is Gwen's dress this year - the girls love to dress up like Little House on the Prairie, but this year I made this one - kinda old fashioned, but wearable for today too - love the purse - I can see all the little girls wanting a few of them in all colors!!  Sure hope it fits and she likes it - her package should be delivered to her today - can't wait to see what it looks like on her.  It is so hard to believe our first princess is 11 years old already!!

Be sure to stop back tomorrow for our SUStars BlogHop ... I have some cute fall projects you won't want to miss.  I will be checking in, but yippee, we will be at Disney World for a week, leaving today.  It will be great to see Mickey, Minnie and all the rest ... oh yes, and a bunch of family too ...

God bless you, Shirley

WhooHoo ... it's our first SUStars Blog Hop

How exciting ... welcome to our very first SUStars Blog Hop!!  I know you will have great fun and get some super ideas to CASE on this hop .... and if you get lost on the road of our blog hop, you can always go back to our home blog at http://www.su-stars.blogspot.com/ and find the next stop.   You probably came here from Maria's blog at http://stampartpapel.blogspot.com - I am so glad I don't need to remember my Spanish lessons to enjoy her creations!!  If you are starting your blog hop here, you can follow the links for all 17 stops plus our home page.

Sorry I have not been posting anything on my blog for a bit - been having a bunch of medical tests as has my hubby, and stamping has not been a priority.  Plus ... and this won't surprise some of you ... my stamp cave is a mess and I need to clean it up so I feel creative in here again.

The theme for our blog hop this month is Fall or Halloween ... I chose Fall, and here's my card.

The Stampin' Up! supplies I used are:
Stamp sets: Smarty Pants, Sanded Background and Fall Harvest wheel
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive and Naturals Ivory
Inks: Basic Black, Chocolate Chip and Old Olive
Accessories: Pinking Hearts Border Punch (hey, you know me and my punches - gotta use at least one on every card if possible!!); Paper Daisies (they come white but I sponged with Old Olive ink); Basic Pearls; Watercolor Pencils; Aqua Painter; Crystal Effects (to add shine to the pumpkins and gourds)

I saw a similar card somewhere - can't remember where, on a blog maybe? and really liked it - I have no idea how I remembered what I wanted to do to make it 'mine', but I did!  Guess I'm not as old as I think I am, huh!

Here's a bonus card - one I love to make every year ... It uses the sponge technique on glossy cardstock - the pumpkin is made by punching Pumpkin Pie cardstock with the Large Oval Punch.  The layered part is Confetti Cream and Always Artichoke c/s and the Scallop Punch.

Your next stop will be Denise at http://www.denisefoor.blogspot.com/ ... I know you will love her creations ... enjoy the rest of your blog hop!!! 

I hope you are having a great weekend - take care and God Bless, Shirley

It's the weekend ..... and the end of VC for this year ....

This has been a busy week - not sure if I made headway in any areas I needed to, but it seemed like I was coming and going all week.  So that means no posts during the week - sorry.  Next week looks more relaxed (at this point anyway) so will try to get pix of some cards and get them on here!  Monday should be lots of fun - I am driving 4 hours to get together with some of my classmates for lunch - and we will kinda plan our next class reunion.  

Tonight is our final party for VC_Rocks this year - boo hoo .... hope I don't lose contact with all my good friends there while we are on hiatus.  But as they say, all good things must come to an end - at least for a while.   

We just got home from a little trip to the "city" ... did some shopping, ate lunch and then a yummy blizzard at DQ - I know, shame on me, but it was sooo good.  And I didn't even finish it so I have some for later.  Last night we had a yummy fish dinner out with some very good friends and some great conversations.  Some weeks we sure eat out a LOT!!  

Today's card was first made by me some time ago - I love this and keep making more ... when Larry needs a card, he often chooses this one, so that means I need to make more.  At one time, I had 14 of them made ahead - now I am down to two.  I can't remember where I got this idea - it was quite a few years ago, and my memory is not what it used to be .... but I do love it!  If it was you, please let me know - I do like to give credit when possible.  I am such a CASE'r.   It uses a retired stamp set - Cowboy Kid.  It takes a while to make because the swinging doors are stamped with white craft ink - and we all know that takes some time to dry completely.  I do a full sheet of Chocolate Chip with the white craft ink and (I think) Sanded background stamp.  Can't get to my stamp cave because Larry is working in the hallway and I can't get thru.  Not sure if you can see it, but the little cowboy is holding his lasso (natural hemp twine).  

Hope you like this card - like I said, it is a fave with my hubby and everyone that gets one.  Guess I had better get a bunch more made and soon - maybe tomorrow, since there is no NASCAR cup race .... and I will try to use some of my newer (and current) stamps in my next posts, but I just had to share this one today.

Hugs to all, and may God Bless you muchly, Sassy Shirley

VC Blog Hop #4 is HERE!!

Good morning (or whenever it is where you are right now ...) Yippee, it's time for the next VC Blog Hop again - this was supposed to be our last because our VC group only meets for the Spring and Summer, but we are hoping we can make this a monthly project -- it will be great for those of us in VC to keep in touch, and great for all our followers to see what we are creating just for our blog.  In case you don't know or have forgotten, VC is a group of stampers who love Stampin' Up! - and all things stampin' and scrappin' -- the name of our group is really VC_Rocks -- and we will be letting in new members in May - let me or one other gals know you are interested, but be warned -- we talk a LOT -- and have sooo much fun getting together online and sometimes in person!  Some of these gals are becoming my very good friends!! 


You probably came here from Kym's blog - www.artfulimagination.blogspot.com - if not, you can start at the beginning of our blog hop at www.vcrocks.blogspot.com -- the next blog on our list is Tessa's - you will want to see what Tessa has created at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/tessaboulter/blog - - you won't want to miss any of these awesome blogs this weekend!  There are 32 blogs plus our home page with 4 bloggers post there!!  Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!!!!


Today's project came about because I needed a quick little gift - being short of time (and money and sense sometimes too), this was fast and easy for me.  I have had the box pattern for several years - not sure where I got it, but I like it.  I am posting 2 of the holders so you can see a couple different ideas ... the Lovely Lilac set (a retired color now) I did a few years ago and the Melon Mambo was this week's .... sorry to say that all the stamp sets and designer papers I used are now retired but you can use whatever you have on hand if you want - or again, contact me to order or for a new SU! Idea Book/Catalog ..... but the punches I used are still available!!

Here is my pattern ... hope it makes sense ... I thought I found it on SCS but when I went to find it again, I couldn't locate it -- so this is the best I can do.

I hope you enjoy my blog today - and always.  Leave me some feedback and I will draw a name to receive a little something from me.  Once again, your next stop will be Tessa at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/tessaboulter/blog 

Hugs and prayers for a wonderful day - God Bless you, Sassy Shirley 

It's Friday!!!

Wow, it's Friday again - and looking forward to the weekend - we have a trip to Traverse City and then a funeral back here in Owosso - some fun, some not so fun, but that's how it goes, huh.  

Last night I needed to make a birthday card for a friend, and after looking thru my folders full of ideas (from some very creative and artistic stampers), this is what I came up with.  It is CASE'd from someone - sorry I don't remember who, but if you know, please let me know so I can give the creator credit.  I copied it to a folder and somehow neglected to copy her name. 

I love this card - I love butterflies ... the supplies I used (all Stampin' Up!, of course) are Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron and Whisper White cardstock, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive and Basic Black ink, Butterfly and Eyelet Border Punches (whoo hoo - all in our current catalog!!) along with these stamp sets:  Upsy Daisy and Curvy Verses (both currently available) and Punch Posies which is now retired.  Sometimes it is soooo difficult to give up our favorite stamp sets - and colors - and embellishments, etc.  But with so many new and exciting things in the new catty, I know it won't be long before I have new faves, as you will too. 

Hope you like this card - I do like to punch out or cut out a stamped image and add it to my cards with Dimensionals - for that "popped up" effect.  I have made it in several color combos so play around and let me know what you like the best.

Hugs and prayers and may God Bless you and your family, Sassy Shirley

Surprise, surprise, surprise ... 2 days in a row!!!  Whatcha think about that???!!!

Today's card is a Christmas card - using the Delightful Decorations Stamp Set, Ornament Punch, Sparkle and Shine Jumbo Wheel on Rich Razzleberry cardstock and ink.  The Rich Razzleberry c/s is cut 11" x 4 1/4"  and scored and folded at 2 3/4" and 8 1/4" ... so they meet in the center.  I cut squares of c/s at 2 3/4", 2 5/8" and 2 1/2" and after sponging color on the edges of the Very Vanilla squares, I mounted them on top of each other, add the punched out stamped image with Stampin' Dimensionals so it is just a little bit raised.

I absolutely love all our Stampin' Up! punches ...in fact, I just started a new drawer for the newest punches!  They are so useful not only for card making, but great for adding embellishments to your scrapbook pages too -- and save some money too.  So many figures can be made with our punches - and they are such fun to create!  If you don't have our latest Stampin' Up! Idea Book/Catalog, let me know ... they cost $9.95 but I sell them to my customers and friends for $5 ... with a coupon for $5 off your first order with me of $25 or more.  Guess that makes it free, huh!  Just let me know you are interested in a catalog, placing an order or joining me with your own SU! business ... most of us are just hobby demonstrators.

So, here's today's card ... two views so you can see how it is folded.

 
So, do you think you will try this method of cutting and folding a card?  Be sure to let me know how you like it when you do.

Once again, I would like to remind you to stop back on Saturday for the VC Blog Hop ... see you then!
Hugs, Sassy Shirley ... now go and be creative!

Well, I haven't been very good about keeping this going ... but here are 3 new cards ... all made alike but the construction of them is different - colors, etc.  Hope you like them.  

This coming weekend is the next VC Blog Hop - be sure to stop back on Saturday ... you will be sure to get some awesome ideas for your own card making and other paper crafts.

Anyway, here are today's cards ... hope you like them.  I hope the pix show all the shine - easy to do but kinda messy ... I stamped the leaves on Whisper White, then stamped the flowers on colored cardstock from the now retired set Embrace Life (still not happy about that!!!) - I cut out the flowers, adhered them on the card and covered with Versamark again and more Irridescent Ice.  Along with Whisper White, the colors I used are Perfect Plum and Pale Plum .... Turquoise ..... and Apricot Appeal.  Some colors are now retired, but I have a lot left, and wanted to use some of them up ... ok, ok, I have been challenged by my friends on VC to use up my retired colors of cardstock (and DSP)!!

What do you think? Would you like to receive a card like this?  I will draw a name from all the responses - be sure to let me know which color you would like. 

I really hope you will check back in regularly and leave me a message in one way or the other -- that way, I will be encouraged to keep this blog up to date.    

Have a great day - I already have tomorrow's post ready - hope I don't forget to send it!!!  

Hugs, Sassy Shirley                                                                   

                      

  
                                                                

  


  

VC BLOG HOP #3 !!!!!

The July VC_Rocks BLOG HOP is here - I am stop #16 .. and I am excited to be a part of the fun this month.  If you started at the beginning of the blog hop, you came here from Alexandria Snider's Ready Craft Create blog at readycraftcreate.blogspot.com - if you are just joining the blog hop, you can start at the beginning:    vcrocks.blogspot.com.

My card for today is an easy one - really.  I have been asked to make and post some easier-to-make cards so here goes.  The colors I used are Wild Wasabi and Whisper White - I am happy to see Wild Wasabi back in our catalog, but this time, instead of being an in-color (in 2007-08), it is a "regular" color now.  I used these stamp sets: Pocket Silhouettes and Sincere Salutations for the saying, both stamped with Versamark and embossed with white embossing powder.  Other accessories I used included: Scallop Circle Punch and a circle punch, a clear button backed by a 1" circle punched out of Whisper White .... and I used white embroidery floss for an accent.  Hope you enjoy it - I received one similar from a friend and I liked it so much that I CASE'd it ... now if you decide to CASE this one yourself, I'd really like to see it.  I have had this stamp set since it first came out, and don't think I have ever used it before ... now I have another sample card for you - today was a fun stampin' day!

This card uses the same stamp sets and the Wild Wasabi and Whisper White with Chocolate Chip for contrast.  I double stamped (ink your stamp, stamp once, then stamp again without reinking) - Oval punches and our Pinking Hearts Border Punch and Chocolate Chip 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon.   Which one do you like best?

Your next blog stop is Diana Clark at stampinldyglfr62.blogspot.com ... enjoy her creations and the rest of the blog hop!  See you next time you visit me here - and hey, next month's blog hop is already scheduled .. so stay tuned.

Have fun, take care, get creative and God Bless

new cards!!

The name of this Stampin' Up! stamp set is Peace Within ... as many of us know, the only way to have peace is to have Jesus in your heart and your life, but this set is really cute.  My daughter saw it and really likes it, so  I am making a few cards for her.  She loves cats - has 2 in the house and a bunch outside.  If you would like to know all the supplies I used, just let me know.

   

The stamp set is in our new current catalog but sorry to say, the designer papers are retired.  I have a BIG box of the designer papers that I am hoarding ... yes, I admit it, I AM a hoarder .... I love them, buy them, hesitate to use them because they are not replaceable ... and so my stash builds and builds.  I did have a couple of boxes of non-SU papers, but I have given most of them away now - I just love the quality of the papers we sell, plus the colors go with my ink pads and cardstock!  So look for more cards to come - I will try so very hard to use some of my faves.

Tomorrow is our big VC Rocks Blog Hop ... stop by to see what I and some of my friends have made to share with you -- some of the blogs will have blog candy, but you won't know which ones until you stop there!  You can come back here and I will have the starting blog or you can go from here and go full circle.  Now this is fun! 

Until then, take care and get creative!  

God Bless you and yours ..... 

Happy 4th of July - and New CATTY!!!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!  July 4th is here and I hope and pray your celebrations are fun and safe. 

and .... finally .... our new 2010-11 Stampin' Up! Idea Book/Catalog is here, and I have some extras right now!!  I am so excited about this new Idea Book, as always.  It is such fun to peruse the catty and find the stamps and accessories I just have to have as well as find cards, scrap pages and other creations that I want to copy.   

If you would like your own copy of the catalog, just contact me - our fantastic Idea Book/Catalog usually cost $9.95, but you can get your own copy for FREE a couple of ways:  FREE by hosting a Workshop or Class with me or for $9.95 with a rebate of $9.95 for placing at least a $30 product order (taxes and s/h are extra) - that's like FREE too.  So if you are going to order anyway, you might as well get your catty for free!

Here is a link to view the catalog - now go crazy!!   http://204.228.150.61/20102011catalogs/IBC10-11_US_reduced.pdfMake your list and call me to order!  Or, contact me to get your own catty in your hot little hands - personally, that's the way I like to shop, even in this day and age of Internet shopping - I like to mark up my catalogs with items I have, what I want, etc ... no one could figure out my code!  You may need to copy and paste - my link is not working for some reason ...

I need to take some pix of some of my latest cards - I belong to a great group of gals every Summer (VC_Rocks) and we have lots and lots of swaps - a terrific idea to get stamps and accessories you may not own as well as awesome ideas to CASE (copy and stamp everything).  Membership is taken only until May 31st, but if you love to stamp, scrap and make other items with Stampin' Up! materials, contact me and I can let you know next April when we open up again.  VC_Rocks really stands for Virtual Convention and we have a very, very good time!  It was started for those of us not attending the SU convention every Summer, but many of our members go to convention anyway - it's that much fun. 

Check back with me in a day or so for some awesome cards made by me (of course) and some of my friends. 

God Bless and again, Happy 4th of July ... be safe ....

Here's 3 cards for the SNS challenges tonight ... Challenge #1 was to make a card with "winged things" ... so I chose to use the butterfly in the SNS set In His Time.  Challenge #2 was to use a "red flower" ... so I used the SNS set Love Blooms.  Both these sets were designed last year by my good friend Chris Dickinson for SNS. The 3rd Challenge was to use a cuddly animal and since I need a birthday card for a sweet little girl who loves bears, it was not a problem.  I used a long retired set I have from Stampin' Up!.  All papers, inks and accessories are from Stampin' Up!.  If you have any questions, just ask ... right now, I am going to post this and get to bed as it's after midnight ... and my eyes keep trying to close.  Hope you enjoy the cards ... nite nite all and may God Bless you.

Challenge #1: Winged Things SNS61RP1  
These butterflies were embossed in black on vellum, cut out and colored with SU Markers.  I love to emboss on vellum then color!  Can you tell????


Challenge 2:  Red Flower  SNS61RP2  

Challenge 3: Adorable Animals  SNS61RP3

 

This shows the inside of the card - it is folded in a way so it folds in and the card closes nicely but opens in a burst of balloons and confetti and presents.  Just added a little extra something for my little friend.  

Last Chance

Well .... the Last Chance list from Stampin' Up! was released early this morning ...

Here is the link for the retiring stamps:
http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ItemList.aspx?categoryID=738&cid=71

Here is the link for the retiring accessories:
http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ItemList.aspx?categoryID=754&cid=71

and the link for the retiring Definitely Decorative list:
http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ItemList.aspx?categoryID=740&cid=71

If you have any problems, just go to stampinup.com and find the lists there.  I don't have a SU website right now .... but you can find most things on the customer website or here on my blog or just contact me.

Items are already being shown as limited amounts so don't delay .... call me today to place your order at 989-729-0164 ... if you would like to have a Stampin' Up! creative workshop, I would love to help you with that too - earn FREE products and have fun with your friends and family by creating one-of-a-kind cards and gifts.  I took a hiatus but am ready to get back into the swing of planning and conducting workshops - in your home or elsewhere ... again, call me soon to get on my calendar - I know we can find a date that works for both us us.

I hope this beautiful June 1st is a fabulous day for you!!

Happy Memorial Day

I hope and pray one and all are having a safe and meaningful Memorial Day weekend - remembering our servicemen and women should be done every day, but it is good to have this special time for them this weekend. We went up north on Friday and are going again tomorrow morning. We had too much going on here to go for the whole weekend, so two trips it is. But we get to see family and friends so it is good. Coming home Friday nite we had a big detour on I-27 north of St. Johns, but cannot find the reason on the news or newspaper ... weird ...

Well, I've been told by several gals that they want cards, so here we go ...

Here's a couple cards that I have made - and made over and over again, in different colors and using different sets.

This card has flowers from Embrace Life white embossed on vellum (sometimes I use clear embossing powder) and cut out, then colored in with SU Markers. I used the Eyelet Border Punch to make the strips and Rhinestone Brads for the flower centers - but I cut off the prongs and glued them on so I didn't have the bulk. I love to make this card and have given it for many occasions in the different colors.

This card was made for my daughter for her birthday earlier this month. These flowers are so much fun - using the Fancy Flower Punch (Mini catty). I sponged the edges with Regal Rose Ink before curling the petals and putting it together, and added some Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive and Dazzling Diamonds for glitter and glitz. The directions for the flowers are on several stampers' blogs - let me know if you want their websites. I used Rose Red DSP for the card front over Whisper White. The leaves are stamped and embossed with clear powder. This card is made to be handed to the recipient, not mailed unless you use a box for mailing. Lots of fun and I sit and make these flowers while watching TV. I taught my 10 year old granddaughter and she had no trouble with them.

And this last card is a lot of fun to make! The swinging doors are Chocolate Chip with white Craft Ink and the Weathered Background (retired). This has to be completely dry or it smears ... trust me, I know. I used Cowboy Kid stamp set (also retired) and twirled some Natural Hemp Twine for his lasso. I used Bashful Blue for the card and Naturals White and Chocolate Chip along with the White Gel Pen around the edge. I am sorry that I did not keep the name of the person who made the card like this the first time I saw it a couple years ago - I like to give credit when I can.

Hope you enjoy these cards ... you can let me know by leaving a comment.

God bless you all, Sassy Shirley

I'm ba-a-a-a-ck ....

Surprise, surprise, surprise ... I cannot believe I have let this blog sit idle since last July ... chalk it up, once again, to being busy, sick and oh yes, basically lazy. I am going to try again to keep up - if you are a regular, email me to keep me posting my cards and other stamping/scrapping creations.

My daughter Amy from Pennsylvania was here last weekend for my Grandson Alex Coffey's graduation ... Amy and 5 of her 7 kids stayed with us then Gwen, the oldest girl at 10 3/4 stayed a few more days. It was fun but these old folks are used to just the two of us and it was an adjustment along with a LOT of fun. Now it is quiet again, and I really miss them all. I am putting a picture of Eleanor, the youngest at 5 months old -- where it ends up on this post is anyone's guess ... I have so much to learn on how to do what I want to do with this blog. I am hoping someone on my VC Rocks group will do a class on blogging .... hint, hint .... but anyway, what a cutie pie ... as are all her sisters and brothers.

I am also adding some pix of Alex's graduation and the FETCH Formal (FETCH is the homeschooling group here that my 3 local grandsons and their parents are involved in. For a time I taught stamping classes but ran into a scheduling conflict - I really enjoyed doing that! Hope they end up where I want them .... lol ... The pix of the Formal include Alex, his older brother Josiah who graduated last year, and Maigen, his girlfriend who also graduated this year. Very nice looking young kids, huh!!! Also pictured is my daughter Pam and hubby Craig with Alex at graduation and his classmates. Some of the homeschoolers from our FETCH group decided to graduate with other friends' groups, so they ended up with just 6 graduates this year. Nice looking group and the ceremony was great!

Well, that's enough for now ... later, I will post some cards and more pix of what I've been up to these past few months. For now, keep stamping - or maybe get started!!! It is so much fun and so rewarding!