Workin' on gettin' my mojo back~~

I have recently been struggling with my stamping Mojo. A lot. I am sure you have noticed the lack of consistent posts.

The less I stamp, the less I want to stamp. The opposite is also true. They also say that stamping is cheaper than therapy, but I no longer believe that for a second. There's a lot of "therapy" in my stamp room!

So in an effort to solve my own dilemma, I decided to spend a few hours on concentrated stamping time. I think it worked! What you have been seeing this week is a result of that day! I feel better, so much better that I ordered some new goodies from the upcoming SU catalog! Next week could be even better!

This sketch also came from the CAS blog. I used some Garden Gala DSP with a retired SS from a mini, Watercolor Trio. I sure wish they had kept that one around!

I also photographed the inside since I keep dressing up the insides, but not taking photos.........simple but it adds such a nice touch!

~~Stamping Smiles~~

Shelli

Two Timer~~

Here I go again with the punchy blog titles! Sheesh----

Today's card is full of so many non-SU things! The bicycle is from a PTI set, as is the greeting and the buttons. The "mesh" stamping you see on the three colored background is CTMH (ancient).

The ribbon is Pear Pizazz SU, as is the CS. (Pear Pizazz, Pumpkin Pie and Cajun Craze.) The card base is Crumb Cake and behind the trio of colors is early Espresso CS as well as the ink.

I used colored pencils to add some color as they are softer than SU markers, and I haven't gone Copic (yet).

I went to the CAS blog for the layout and I am never disappointed with their selection!

I hope you can get a card in the mail to someone you love today---you'll be glad you did!

~~Stamping Smiles~~

Shelli

Top Note Fun~~

I had a little fun with the cuttlebug on this one! I folded a piece of 4 1/2" cs and ran it through with the Top Note Die, with the fold just above the cutting lines! It makes a smaller, adorable little card!

The owl is from Fox and Friends (retiring this month). Have you noticed how owls are "in"?

I added googley eyes and popped him up with Dimensionals. The greeting is from So Happy For You (SAB) which I markered up so I could fit it in where I wanted it rather than straight across! The ribbon is from my stash! Remember, the secret to a happy stamper is having everything on hand to complete a project! You just gotta have "stuff"!

See you back tomorrow!

~~Stamping Smiles~~

Shelli

Edgy Thank you~~

Edgy because I used my Cuttlebug to create the zig-zag near the edges of the panel! Get it? (my friend Marla has ade me punchy....I blame her!)

Once again, the sketch is from the CAS blog. Gotta love em'!

The high point of this card is the buttons. I made them with the button die from my SU catalog! So fun! It embosses and cuts out several at a time. I used Dimensionals to give them some lift. The zig-zag folder fit it perfectly with the "theme" of this card. The folder is the narrow ones that come in a 5 pack, that just do narrow strips. So great when you just need something small like this!

It's Mail-a-card-Monday! Don't forget! Your loved ones are counting on you!

~~Stamping Smiles~~

Shelli

Banana Bread~~

Made ya look!

I was thinking of the Barely Banana CS I used, and in my effort to come up with a catchy title for today's post, that's about as far as I got. Sorry!

I found this layout on the web recently, and of course now I cannot find it again to give proper credit.

I went diggin' in my DSP stash, the one that grows uncontrollably but rarely shrinks....and found this ancient and very mush loved DSP from years ago. It was one of the first times SU did two sided DSP and this was a great assortment! I used Barely Banana and Chocolate Chip CS paired with the new Four Frames SS, the Decorative Lable punch, the small oval punch, and both sizes of the Square punches. Call me punch happy!

I also used the Elegant Bouquet embossing folder with my Cuttlebug to give some dimension to the card. Guess that's about it~~~

Make someone smile tomorow by mailing them a handmade hug today! That's why we make these babies right?

~~Stamping Smiles~~

Shelli

CAS Sketch~~

I am falling back to the Clean and Simple blog again for inspiration! They make stamping easy when your brain is frozen~~

Today I used Baja Breeze and Not Quite Navy CS with the Springtime Vintage DSP from the last mini catalog. The greeitng is new and from the Happy Greetings SS in the current mini!

The lil' flowers are from my LCS. Simple and effective, just a touch of bling!

This card is going to a special friend who just moved to Texas......hope she likes it!

~~Stamping Smiles~~

Shelli

Trio-Challenge~~

This week I challenged the girls in my stamp club to make three different cards with the same stamp set. Quite a few have played along, and I am hoping a few more still will. It has been fun to see their creativity, and fun for them to be stretched! (or so I am told...)

This is my third of 3. I was origionally going to use Chic Boutique but I got stuck on this new Nautical stuff, and haven't quite left! This one is sort of cheating on the challenge as I didn't actually use the sailboat stamp, but the theme is the same. I have another couple cards in mind for it, but in case I don't get to it them, I am complete here!

I made this Fathers Day card for my "little brother" who is probably almost a foot taller than me! He is a great and loving dad and I know he doesn't read my blog (why would he? He doesn't stamp.....) so I figured it was safe to show his card here!

The CS used are Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso and Crumb Cake (the circle). This is the Nautical DSP from SU, of course, and the rest is just stuff from my craft room. The rope, the brad and so on. Simple yet classy I think!

I hope your weekend is a good one! Stamp away!

~~Stamping Smiles~~

Shelli

Soft Sails~~

Soft Suede Sails that is----

I am enjoying this A-la-cart stamp from SU! I can think of a few images that might be nice to have to add to it, like one of those ship steering wheel thingies, and and anchor.....we will see if maybe something comes out in the new catty! It's so close I can't stand it! It's my favorite part of summer!

Just a little colored pencil here, some bakers twine, a bit of Nautical DSP and a couple brads for pop. That's about it!

Your turn!

~~Stampng Smiles~~

Shelli

Sail Away Fathers Day~~

I am so happy there are some new manly images in the Occasions Mini! I always need help with the manly cards! Yay SU!

The greeting is PTI, but everything else is SU! Night of Navy, Cherry Cobbler and Soft Suede CS. The bakers twine is SU! I just did a little coloring with my cheapo trusty colored pencils, and ta-da!

There is still time so get to work on those Fathers Day cards! Don't forget, it-s Mail-A-Card-Monday! Hugs~~~~

~~Stamping Smiles~~

Shelli

Meow~~

Another card from club! Don't we have fun girls?

I started with Crumb Cake CS, and layered with various Not Quite Navy and Old Olive DSP and CS.

The frame was made with a 3x3 square of CS punched with the

new style border punch (Dotted Ribbon punch used here) on all four sides! If you have the old style (black) punch, use a CS piece that is 2.75x2.75 square. Fun right?!

Inside is adorable (forgot to take photo). I used the birdbath stamp in the set to decorate the inside left corner to add interest and color to the inside......hey! Insides matter!

How do you like the black background? I got my photo tent in and I think it is working pretty well! I "stole" the desk lamp from my sons room while he is in Texas to add light......he MIGHT get it back!

Send a Friend a card TODAY!

~~Stamping Smiles~~

Shelli

Stamp Club Laughs~~

Well, if you were at stamp club on Thursday, you understand the title to this post! This card was super simple, except one thing. We made the tassle. The Saturday group handled it just fine, but we had some good laughs over it on Thursday. Now you know why (at club) I said this card would be the death of me!

I made the tassle with embroidery floss. I will not even begin to attempt to explain how. It was enough at club! But, the hat is the 1 3/8 inch square punch up on Dimensionals with a black brad in the center. The greeting is from Happy Greetings in the Summer Mini.

Having not stamped for two weeks, I am behind the eight ball here. I will try to get back on track this week with a post on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at least!

Stamping Smiles

Shelli