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

Honeycomb Hello

Been a couple of days - had such a busy, busy week for some reason.  And I still have tomorrow with the Home Tour here (get to see almost 20 old homes in their glory ... and Sunday is a trip up to Gaylord.  

Here is today's card - hope you like it ....

 

I love using all of our Embossing Folders - they just add just the right amount of detail to a plain card. This card uses the Honeycomb folder, Daffodil Delight c/s (sorry it looks dark, had bad lighting).  I added a Whisper White oval cut with the Ovals Collection Framelits that I stamped with Daffodil Delight and Basic Black using a couple stamps in the "Oh Hello" stamp set.  The yellow 'ribbon' is the Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape and I used a retired black polka dot ribbon.  I also added a few rhinestones and one of my favorite toys to play with, the Buttons and Blossoms Simply Pressed Clay Molds and Clay - instead of coloring the clay, I used a black marker on the white buttons.  So simple .... 

Hope you have a great weekend - will post again as soon as I can.  God Bless, Sassy Stamper Shirley

Chalk Talk in Midnight Muse and Gumball Green

Today brought the beginning of the NASCAR Chase Race ... and is now in a rain delay. Hopefully they will get it in tonight so the teams can go back home .... but time will tell.  So for now I am kinda watching for updates while I take care of some other things.  Just in case you don't know, I live, breathe and love NASCAR ...

My card today once again uses the Chalk Talk stamp set and Framelits - along with our Honeycomb Embossing Folder for the background.  I added Gumball Green Stitched Satin Ribbon, and used Midnight Muse, Gumball Green and Whisper White cardstock.  For a bit of emphasis, I stamped the word "something" by itself in Midnight Muse ink, cut it out and attached over the same word on the larger image.  Also for emphasis, and just because I really, really like to do this, I embossed the green tag with Clear Embossing Powder and Versamark. I used one of the stamps from Creative Elements Stamp Set for the little green image on the blue tag.

 

i hope you enjoy viewing my cards - I sure have a lot of fun creating them.  Today I made several Step Cards - watch for them on my blog in a day or two.  Now I want to get one of them ready to mail to my sister in law in Alaska for her birthday!!  Take care and God Bless, Sassy Stamper Shirley

Chalk Talk - Grateful there's you

It is Tuesday ... and it's over 90 degrees and humid - yes, in September - in Michigan. So I am staying inside with my air going.  I cleaned out my refrigerator (tomorrow is garbage day) and 3 cabinets so far.  Feels good to get some things taken care of.  Talk about expired dates on food!  Well, it's gone.

Today I am showing a card done in two colors and just a bit different. That's another aspect of cardmaking that makes it fun for me - personalizing my cards for the people I make them for or even to relay my mood for that particular day.  I suppose most rubber stampers do the same thing.

This card uses our Chalk Talk stamp set - I chose to use Whisper White cardstock with Gumball Green and Pistachio Pudding for the first and Midnight Muse and Marina Mist for the second.  I made another using Primrose Petals but I sent it to someone.  I love, love, love our In Colors!! Wonder which ones will eventually make it into our regular families of colors ......

 

Accessories I used include:  Gumball Green and Midnight Muse 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon, Basic Pearl Jewels along with, of course, my Mr. Big Shot and Chalk Talk FrameLits and my Large Oval Punch.  Hey, as much as I do love my Big Shot, my punches do not sit there unused - no way!  once again, I did not add a regular sentiment stamp, but I do like the saying on the punched piece - I know I sure have lots of people that I am grateful for here in this world.  

Have a great day, stay cool and be creative whenever you have the chance - makes me feel good!  

God Bless, Sassy Stamper Shirley

Wisteria Wonder Creative Elements

September is here!! but I still love flowers all year long so .....

Hey, hey, hey ... I'm back!  I have a couple new friends who seem to love my cards so I have been creating more these days - funny how even a seasoned senior such as me likes and needs to hear words of affirmation sometimes!  Hopefully I will be more faithful about posting cards here - show me some love and encourage me, ok??!!  lol

Today I was reading some emails and saw the Red Hot Challenge and thought I would give it a try today so here is my card for this challenge - simple but effective, I think.  It was fun, and I think I may go back and do some of the other challenges and see what I come up with. Now if only I could find an easy way to resize my photos - I downloaded a couple programs but guess this sinus headache is messing with my understanding gene today.

 

I layered Whisper White on Wisteria Wonder cardstock, used my Creative Elements stamp set, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, and the Buttons and Blossoms Simply Pressed Clay and Molds ... such fun (last night I made about 150 buttons and blossoms for future use).  I colored the clay flowers just by rolling and pressing lightly into my Wisteria Wonder Ink Pad - you can also use the markers - I did not want them fully colored for this card so just lightly colored these.  I stamped the flower 3 times, embossed with Clear Embossing Powder and cut out to be able to layer them but not sure if you can see the depth in the pix.  I also used my Paper Piercing Tool for the scallop circle.  I will most likely add a sentiment when I am ready to use this card but left it empty for the challenge.  So easy to do and fun, fun, fun!  

Be sure to leave me a note to pump up my ego a bit --- some days I need that more than others!  

Hope you like this card - now who shall I send it to?   

Have a great day and may God Bless you and your family, Shirley

Hi everyone ... I am enjoying a few days in Albuqurque, NM ... beautiful weather, great and friendly people - altho' the weather in Michigan is great too.  I just needed a break from ''stuff' and to see how the lack of humidity affects my sinuses.

It's time for our June VC Rocks Blog Hop ... I made a card especially for this hop before I took a trip and forgot to take a picture of it.  So I am going to post a couple cards that fit this month's theme using one or more of these SU products - "Big Shot, Punches and/or Simply Scored".  I honestly cannot remember when I last made a card not using my Mr. Big Shot - fun, fun, fun, and just like I knew would happen, I MUST have every accessory SU makes for it - so far, I have almost succeeded.

I must admit that I copied (C.A.S.E.D) these cards - everyone has such wonderful ideas and sometimes I am so in love by what I find that I don''t change a thing the first time I make it - then I get creative, changing colors, embellishments, saying, etc.  I do try to always use current products so you can purchase them for your own use if you like.

Here's my first card - it was made and sent to a friend who went shopping with me (neither of us found the dress we were looking for ... lol.  Sorry for the picture looking 'rounded' - just the way it came out from my angle.

I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:  Basic Black and Very Vanilla cardstock, Modern Medley DSP, Basic Black stamp pad, Very Vintage Designer Buttons, Big Shot, Dress Up Framelit, Perfext Polka Dot EF, Oval Framelit, Bitty Banners Framelit, Candy Dot (Neutral), Crochet Trim

This card was made for a swap I was in among mostly local friends - again, I CASED it, this time from my upline's blog: I made a couple extras and sent this one to a friend who bought a butterfly bush when we were shopping at the garden center - I should have bought one too since my bush from last year died.

 

I just love cards made using only black, white, vanilla, gray - The following Stampin' Up! supplies were used for this card:  Basic Black, Whisper White, Basic Gray cardstock, Perfectly Penned Stamp Set, Basic Black stamp pad, Big Shot, Framed Tulips EF, Beautiful Wings Embosslits, Pearl Basic Jewels

As you can imagine, this card would be beautiful using all of our SU colors - just find your favorites, I just felt like using these neutral colors (wow, I just noticed I used Neutral colors for both cards - that's not like me for sure!!)  Next month will be brights - and maybe even before our blog hop if I remember to post some samples I make.  

I hope you enjoyed viewing these cards - I sure have fun being creative, just wish I would be better about putting all my supplies back where they belong so my stamp room didn't look so messy most of the time.  Oh well, it hasn't happened yet so I don't expect to change too much.  lol 

Have a most excellent day and enjoy our blog hop.  God Bless you and yours today and always

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

Welcome to our June VC_Rocks Blog Hop!!  I am so sorry life did not permit me to take part of the May hop .... but I'm here now!!  You may be following the tour and got here from Mary Campbell's blog at http://mimitojett.blogspot.com  (love her creativity and her pix) .... or you may have just popped in to see what's going on with me.  In either case, you can always go to our home page at any time at http://vcrocks.blogspot.com/ to get the full line-up.    

Our theme this month is any size, any theme cards .... so I chose graduation since that is what I've been making the most lately.  These first 2 cards are just 2 colors of 21 cards I made, changing the colors for different schools and our church graduates.I like to make several cards the same (or mainly) so I can measure and cut and set aside the parts of the cards, plus  cleaning up the stamps, etc. is easier at one time too!!  I am soooo bad about putting the stamps back in their own boxes - I always have a basket full of stamps waiting to find their happy home (I know, shame on me big time!!!)

  

For these particular cards, I used the following supplies --

cardstock: Crumb Cake, Night of Navy, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White

inks: Night of Navy, Rich Razzleberry

stamp sets: retired Great Grads and Tassel Time

accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, retired gold cord

This next card was somewhat CASE'd from Stampin' Success, a great monthly magazine for Stampin' Up! demonstrators.  I changed some supplies to use what I have on hand but the basic card is the same.  It was a fun card to create!!  

 1 

 2   3

The first pix is with the card closed; #2 pix shows it opened with the sentiment and pix #3 is the back of the card, with a slot for a gift card, check or cash.  I used some retired supplies and changed some other things around to make it with what I had on hand but I like it.  I made it with black and silver card stock for this one because Adam chose black and silver as his grad colors. That's just one more thing to like about homeschooling .... 

Hope you enjoy these cards - I KNOW you are enjoying the blog hop!  From here, your next stop is Terri Tank's blog at mystampvault.blogspot.com (another super talented stamping friend) or go to our home page at http://vcrocks.blogspot.com/ at any time in case you get lost or maybe someone's link does not work correctly. 

Leave me a comment and I will send one of you one of the first 2 cards.  

Enjoy the rest of the hop and I will see you anytime you stop by, and next month "at the hop" (gee, that sounds like an old song I remember) ...  lol, those old songs have been running thru my mind because my class reunion is coming up in 2 weeks!!  Can't wait to see my classmates - it will be a fun-fun-fun weekend!!

Hugs to all, God Bless, Shirley

  

Greetings ... I've been running all over the place the past few weeks but thought I had better post a new card.  I haven't been very creative even tho' I have a bunch of new playthings from the upcoming SU catalog ....  I did make some Mother's Day and birthday and anniversary cards for my daughter Pam (and Craig) but did not take pix .... she always has all 3 of these big days within a week ...

Our challenge this week over at VC Rocks was to do some doodling on a card - I used a new stamp set "Papaya Collage" for the frame and bird and then I doodled around the frame, inside and outside.  The colors I used are Calypso Coral and soon-to-be retired Confetti White cardstock ... I will miss that paper for sure.  I used Calypso Coral, Baja Breeze and Daffodil Delight markers for the doodles.  The ribbon is also new - 1/8" Taffeta Baja Breeze.  The brads are not Baja Breeze but they match pretty good - not sure what color they are but guess they are retired by SU sometime back.  Who, me ... a hoarder?  No way - I always end up using my retired supplies sometime!!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend - my grandson Adam graduates tomorrow evening with his open house on Saturday.  He, along with all my grandchildren, has been homeschooled and is soooo smart!  Wish he could share some of his techy expertise with me!!  But at least I always know who to call!

See you next week if not before ...

God Bless, Shirley