Putting on the Color!!

Here it is, our final Blog Hop for VC Rocks for 2014 ... it is so hard to believe we have less than 2 weeks left - this summer has flown by.

Our theme this month is Color, Color, Color ... we are to use color in any way we want.  So I pulled out my drawer of pieces of the Bright collection and went to town!  The stamp set is Starburst Sayings and I used the Starburst Framelits and a couple round punches. For the big circle, I first inked the stamp with Versamark then Tempting Turquoise ink so I could emboss it with clear embossing powder.  I cut a bunch of strips of 5 different colors, adhered them to the white c/s then added a couple banners cut with the Banner Framelits.    It was fun and outside my comfort zone, but sometimes we need to do that, don't we!

Well, I am in Pennsylvania this weekend for the wedding reception for my grandson and his new bride and catching up on more hugs and kisses from all the PA grandchildren.  Talk about fun!  

Have a great weekend ... God Bless, Shirley 

VC Challenge #2

And the fun continues ... 

here's my card for Challenge #2 - make a 1 layer card.  I did add ribbon, hope it's accepted by the people in charge ... 

 

I have not finished my scrap page so will add it later.  Way too many interruptions today to keep my mind on stamping and scrapping, so am glad we have until Monday to finish.  Thinking tomorrow during the race might be a good time to play ... 

Hugs, Shirley

VC Challenge #1 - August 2014

Not sure how many of the challenges I will get done today (we have 6 today, with 1 card and 1 scrapbook page for each, making 12 projects total.  I have been soooo lazy about scrapping for way too long, so I will do my best to get them all done by our deadline of Monday, if not today.

Here is my first card - the challenge was to CASE (copy and share everything) from the catalog or mini.  I chose to make the card on page 56 using Blooming with Kindness stamp set.  It is a 1 layer card, which I almost never ever do.  So, to keep up with me being me, I trimmed the white and added a layer of Crisp Cantalope to the back for a card - what can I say, I like to add color!!

   

Here's my first scrapbook page for the day of challenges ... it is my first great-grandson Zaiden, who was born on May 2, 2014.  I continued my goal of using as much of my retired DSP as I can before moving (somewhere, God has not confirmed where - or exactly when - that will be, but I rest in His Word that He will take care of me.)

 

If you are not a 'collector' of things stamping and scrapping, you just cannot imagine what a challenge it is for me to use these papers that cannot be replaced.  The embellishments, etc. don't bother me much, but the papers do.  But I am down to one box now, instead of 2, so that is a good thing!  Onward I go .... 

Have a great day, and may God bless you and your family with lots and lots of love, peace and good health.  Hugs, Shirley

July Blog Hop 2014!!

It's here, it's here!!  Another Blog Hop for VC Rocks!!!  You can find the other participants' blogs by following this link to our VC Rocks Blog:   http://www.vcrocks.blogspot.com/ ... I'm not sure how many bloggers we have this month due to busy summer schedules, but however many, I promise you fun and lots of ideas for your own creativity!

This month our theme is "Rock Your Creativity with Fun Folds or 3-D Projects." ... even though I just got my swaps back with some  absolutely wonderful Fancy Fold cards, I am showing some card holders that I like to use for gifts or to give for drawings, etc.  Hope you like my ideas this month ... I am not home this week and sorry to say I forgot to bring the list of supplies I used ... and I even wrote them all down!  But I do know that all the DSP (Double-Sided Designer Paper), the ribbon and some of the cardstock is retired - that is one of my goals before I move, to dwindle down the stash of supplies I have been hoarding, oops, I mean saving  ... because, after all, once retired from Stampin' Up! they can't be replaced.  That's reason enough to keep them, isn't it??  I really think so, but .... now I'm thinking that I really don't want to pay to have everything moved so I'm trying to use some up.

My first project is a new one for me - an accordion card holder.  This one holds more than my usual (which holds about 4 cards plus envelopes).  I did not stuff my holder to see how many cards and envelopes it will hold, but I put in 8 and it looked good. 

I still love this ribbon - glad I bought some extra just for occasions like this .... 

 You can kinda see the accordion folds on the side (hey, does this make it a Fancy Fold project??  Nope, guess not .... lol 
I added dividers for the categories of the cards - this time I used birthday, friends and thanks.
I also added a magnet to both sides to keep it closed.

The next card holders are the type I usually make and give - they do hold 4 cards and envelopes very nicely.  If you would like the template, just let me know along with your email addy and I will send it to you.  It didn't want to show up here too clearly for some reason.  I have had the pattern for about a zillion years, give or take, and it has certainly proven its usefulness to me over the years!

 

In the first picture with the 3 holders, I used velco dots to hold it closed and the other two I made belly bands.  

Again, I hope you enjoyed my projects - I'm glad we have our blog hops during the summer so I do post something here once in a while anyway. Maybe I will have to get involved with another group for the other months too.  

Be sure to check out the other hops at http://www.vcrocks.blogspot.com

May God Bless you and your family and give you peace and love, Sassy Stamper Shirley

Happy Happy Blog Hop Time

Yes, indeed ... it's time for our second VC_Rocks Blog Hop.  Good thing I have these hops to participate in or I would neglect my blog for more than a month!  You can find everyone's blog addy at VC Rocks blog:    http://vcrocks.blogspot.com/2014/06/VC-June-Hop.html

This month's challenge is to create something using our 'cutting' tools - Big Shot and Framelits or Thinlits, etc., or Punches .... I still love my punches but I just cannot seem to get away from using my Big Shot for most of my projects.  

The first item I would like to share with you is a cute little Baby Shower Invitation a friend asked me to come up with.  My friend and the mother-to-be stopped over and looked at my products - cardstock colors, etc.  The mother-to-be could not believe I had a bunch of the retired color cardstock Apricot Appeal - it is one of the colors they are doing the nursery in!  And of course, I love being able to use my retired colors up!  In fact, most of the products I used on this project are retired.  I cut the stocking with the folded edge off the cutting area so it will open with the shower info inside. I could have made them with the info on the back, but this is what the honoree wanted.  The cuff and toe/heel parts were embossed using the (retired) Petals A-Plenty Embossing Folder and also on the white part behind the sentiment.  I applied Sticky Strip to the underside of the cuff part and ruffled some white Satin ribbon.  It's kinda hard to see in the picture, but I used the Jewelry Tag Punch on a piece of Apricot Appeal, punched Itty Bitty Shapes flower in white, glued a Pearl in the center and punched a small hole to allow me to insert some white Baker's Twine which I attached under a white grosgrain bow.  Happily, the mother-to-be was excited about the end result so I am making about 60 of them.  Glad I'm a 'collector' of all things SU sometimes so I had a lot of Apricot Appeal c/s leftover!  Now to find something to do with the stacks and stacks of other retired colors!!  Yes, I am an SU! Demonstrator, but don't have many parties/events, and since I 'need' to own all the new colors, etc. along with many of all new products, I always have a lot of products and tools leftover when the new catalog comes out. Plus, it only makes good economical sense to use what I have, right?!!!   

Next, I am showing a card ... I really do love the Label Classics Framelits shape, so it only seemed normal (well, to me anyway) to use most every size in the package!  I needed a birthday card for a friend who loves pink, so .... I used Pink Pirouette cardstock with a little piece of white.  I used the following embossing folders on the pieces: Vintage Wallpaper and Perfect Polka Dots and left every other one un-embossed.  The smallest one is stamped with Apothecary Art stamp set in Pink Pirouette.  

I have to show this too ... like the previous one but I embossed every layer and used Raspberry Ripple c/s and some other embossing folders.  Let me know which you like best and I will draw a name from those people and send you a card like the one you choose.

Be sure to go to  http://vcrocks.blogspot.com/2014/06/VC-June-Hop.html  to view all the blog stops this month.

I hope you enjoyed visiting my blog today - I will try to not wait until next's Blog Hop to post but .... I just get busy and well, yes, kinda lazy. 

May God Bless you, Sassy Shirley

VC Rocks Blog Hop #1 2014

Happy Memorial Day, everyone - remember to be especially thankful this weekend to all the service men and women who make it possible for us to be free and live and worship as we want.    

It's here, it's here ... our first VC Rocks Blog Hop for 2014!!

You can start here or go to our website at http://vcrocks.blogspot.com/2014/05/MayBlogHop.html - there are links there for everyone playing along this holiday weekend. Last I looked, we have 15 stampers participating ... so lots and lots of great ideas ready to be CASEd - by you!

Our theme this month is using our Stampin' Up! tools or embellishments ... of course, you know my Mr. Big Shot is my favorite SU tool, but we are saving that for later this summer.  So, my thinking cap went on and I remembered seeing a project that I really wanted to make that, guess what, did not even involve Mr. Big Shot.  The gal who has this project on her website is Brenda Quintana and her wonderful creations can be found at QbeesQuest.com    I wish I would have found her before our latest Ladies' Day at church, but there's always next year as well as different uses all year long!! I am finding so many great ideas from her!

First I made her butterflies ... so addicting that I just wanted to make more and more.  You will see what I mean once you get started on them yourself!  I am not printing the directions here because Brenda did such a great job with pictures and all and she explains it all much better than I would.  Here's just 18 of the ones I have made so far ... like I said, addicting.  And it is also great for using up some of that Double Sided Designer Paper I tend to hoard.  

 

and here is a pix of just one butterfly so you can see it better .... I know it looks kinda difficult, but believe me, it really is not.  Her directions are great and precise - hey, if I can do it, everyone can!

I made a lot of different colors because, well, because I can!  Not sure what they will be used for (because I can't seem to stop playing), but am thinking I will put a few in my purse when I shop and pass them out to helpful salespeople, etc.  Kinda like an RAK (random act of kindness) from me to them. Next up for me? I think ... Brenda's flowers .... but the heart is so cute ... and the car ... and the baby buggy .... and ... and ... anyone know if there is a 5-step program to stop???  Do I even want to stop making these adorable hershey kisses holders??? And if I don't stop, where am I going to store all these cuties??????

So I suppose you want to know what Stampin' Up! tools I used for these butterflies???  I used my Stampin' Trimmer and Simply Scored ... and my Paper Snips ... that's it, and no adhesive needed either!  Just those basic tools and some DSP and Cardstock .. that's it.  And if you don't have the Simply Scored, you can use your Scoring Blade on your Trimmer.

Then I saw she had this super simple idea for Breast Cancer Awareness and I had to make a few of them too.  This ribbon is self explanatory to everyone who sees it, so it would be great to use for the many fund raisers, luncheons, etc. that groups do all the time.

 

Easy peasy ... these are so quick to make!  Maybe you have a use for them yourself ????? You could stamp on them or print your group info .... I only used my Trimmer and paper snips for this one along with a little Sticky Tape.  

I hope you enjoyed these projects this month - check back - I am going to try hard to post something every couple days ... I mean, it's not like I don't make lots of cards and other projects, I just forget to post them!  

As always, let me know if you want to place an order at any time.  You can reach me at stampershirley@gmail.com or during VC Rocks season, at vc.rocks.shirley@gmail.com 

Remember to go to our website at  http://vcrocks.blogspot.com/2014/05/MayBlogHop.html for a complete list and link of all hoppers this weekend ... believe me, you will have sooo much fun! 

Leave me a comment so I know you've been here, okay?  Thanx .... 

Have a blessed day and be creative, Shirley

What's Shirley been up to ....

Welcome to my little blog spot once again .... I thought I would share with you a card and some info about what is going on with me.  

So without further ado, here's my card for today ... 

 

Just a simple card that can be used for many occasions.  Supplies I used include: 

Stamp Set; Flower Shop

Cardstock: Whisper White and Cherry Cobbler

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Versamark

Accessories: Fancy Fan Embossing Folder and Big Shot , Pansy Punch, Clear Embossing Powder and Heat Tool, Snail Adhesive

I always have a box (or two) filled with cards made without a sentiment, ready to be used for whatever occasion arises.  For me, it works ... sometimes I make cards especially for certain people and sometimes I use these that I have made up ahead of time ... depending largely on my time and ambition and mental creativity.  Of course, I tend to copy lots of card ideas I find online and that I receive from swaps, changing colors and sentiments, etc. most of the time.

A lot of my friends on facebook and elsewhere have asked me what is going on with me the past year or so since I have not been active on my blog ... so I will tell you .... 

After about 18 months of suffering with sinus stuff and not feeling well at all, and the doctors either not knowing what to do, prescribing meds that I don't want to take or have in my body, or wanting to do surgery, I decided to listen to my daughters and some friends and give essential oils a try.  What a blessing they have been to me in several different ways!!  For one, I was having problems getting to sleep and staying asleep at night, and I found lavender oil has taken care of that for me!  Two, I have had a rash most of the time for about 4 years and several doctors didn't know what to do (except keep it clean and dry, etc, etc.), and I found tea tree oil is working wonders for me.  And about my sinuses, I have been using some oils and I have not had problems since.  Miracle of miracles!!  I am sooo happy.  In fact, I was so pleased with my successes that I decided to be a doTerra Consultant. There are many companies selling oils out there, but it is very important to be sure you are using pure oils, which I have investigated and most are not. 

If I can be of any help to you regarding doTerra oils, using oils for your home and family, please let me know ... mydoterra.shirley@gmail.com .... and as always, my Stampin' Up! email remains stampershirley@gmail.com  for any and all of your Stampin' Up! wants and needs.  

Life is good .. no, life is very good and God is Great!!

I pray you are having a great and blessed day, Shirley

Guess what ... VC Rocks is in full swing, so that means we will be having monthly blog-hops once again!! I can't believe how lazy I have been - I have not posted since last September!  Shame, shame, shame.

So, here is my blog post for today - Wednesday, May 21st .... we are having a blog hop this coming weekend, so come back for some awesome projects from my friends (and me!!)

I have been participating in a few swaps the past few months. What do I mean by a swap, you ask?  No, we don't swap children, or homes ... but cards!  I make a card for each participant and they do the same.  Today I will post the cards I made for the last one (I don't want to post the ones I just made since my friends have not received theirs yet, so will do last month's swap).

My first card uses one of my fave colors, Rich Razzleberry with Whisper White cardstock, Razzleberry ink and 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon. I stamped the flower from Blooming with Kindness using Razzlebery ink and filled in the color using my Blender Pen.  Then I added Dazzling Diamonds for shimmer.  Oh yes, the designer paper is our Brights Collection of Double Sided Paper (DSP).

For my second card, I needed a more masculine get-well card, so I picked up one of my staples, Simply Sketched. The cardstock is Soft Suede, Early Espresso and Very Vanilla. I love adding texture so I love using our Embossing Folders, in this case the Woodgrain.  I added a bit of color by sponging over the raised surface with Soft Suede ink.  I added a couple of brown brads too.

Let me know how you like these cards, okay?!!  And be sure to stop back this weekend for our VC Rocks Blog Hop.  Take care and God Bless, Shirley