You Bring Joy~~

Card #3 from the church event.  In keeping with the CAS theme, I used some DSP I had on hand from my LCS.  I chose the colors from there for the rest of the card.  They ended up being Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery and Peach Parfait.  The greeting is from my $1 bin dig a few weeks ago! The buttons are SU's Sizzix die that makes 4 cute little buttons.  I simply tied embroidery floss through them and added Dimensionals behind.  Ta-da!


Proof that encouragement doesn't have to be fancy!  Just mail that card, I dare ya!

~~Blessings~~

Shelli

Just a "note"~~

See what I did right there?  My son says that all the time when he does a play on words, goofy kid!


This is card number two from the event at church.  Very simple, but cute nonetheless.  The stamps you see inside the oval are two separate ones from the same set.  I simply placed them close enough so they would fit inside the punch.  Then I used Dimensionals to pop it up a little.    Add a tiny red rhinestone and you're all set!  Not much else to say about this one...........

~~Blessings~~

Shelli

Simple beauty~~

I hosted a card making event at church this past weekend.  I had the wonderful help of two good friends and it was fun!  


I wanted to share with the ladies about encouraging others. So often we get junk mail and bills, and nothing else in our mailboxes.  I bet your in box isn't much different.


My goal for this workshop was to spur the ladies who came to encourage others with the written word.  What a better way to do that than with a home-made card in the mail!  I got to share about two things I am passionate about; encouragement and card making!  A nice blend to say the least!


I was going for simple with the cards we made since I didn't think that most of the ladies who came would have card making experience, so what you will see is simplicity.


This DSP is left over from Sale-A-Bration several years back.  It is Sahara Sand.  I think its gorgeous paired with a little black don't you?  I used the new Sizzix frames for the oval shape, which is perfect ith the oval punch for the scripture you see!  I just love how SU pairs their products like the frames and the punches, for a big and easy WOW!  The little flower adds just the right pop with the rhinestone in the center.


I hope you are blessing someone today with a little love in the mail box!  Remember, a hand made card is a hug with a fold in the middle!

~~Blessings~~

Shelli

Film Frankie~~

I love this one!  Isn't it great!  (she says patting her own back).  I was talking to my daughter and she said "Mom, you don't send halloween cards...."  and I said "I'm not, he's from a movie, they are movie cards!" (sarcastically) and the idea was born to make a movie strip of Frankie!


I suppose I should have made the notches on the black cs on both sides, but I didn't really think of that until it was completed.  I used my markers in a continuous striping motion to get even color.  If you double back with markers, you get dark areas and uneven color.  The "hello" is also from the $1 bin.  I'm telling you, you need to stalk those craft store bins. I have a wonderful collection of words from the $1 bin, but I have been collecting them for a couple years.  Just grab a couple when you go.  They replenish every couple weeks!


Well, hats off to you.  Hug your kids, love your hubby, mail a card to a friend, and be thankful for what you have!  

~~Blessings~~

Shelli

Monster Mash~~

I could NOT resist this cute little guy at my LCS this week!  I don't really do halloween, but these lil' monsters remind me of that old Monster Mash song?  Do you know it?  He was $1!  So he came home with  me~~

I kept these very simple. Here I added some Wisteria Wonder ink to the base with an old retired stamp called Weathered.  I chose Lucky Limeade for Frankie.....!

And here I added some "boogley eyes" for additional interest!

Isn't he cute!!!!

I have two more to show you with Frankie!  Come back soon----

~~Blessings~~

Shelli

The little things~~

I tried another card with the FTL #156 from the CAS blog!

I used my Cuttlebug narrow strip embossing folder to create the pattern behind the circle image.  I used my tiny circle punch to create the Pumpkin Pie circles inside the flowers on the embossing!  The color combo came from the Color Coach, and I added Crumb Cake for a neutral.  Once again, my $1 bin greetings hit the mark!

Have you ever seen an item of clothing on someone and thought, "that would make a great card!"  I have!  Next time that happens, stop and jot down some notes......what colors were in the clothing, what stamp set do I have that would be great for that?  Then put those notes with your craft stuff and when you need some inspiration, ta-da!

Happy Wednesday to ya~~~

~~Blessings~~

Shelli

Birds and Bees'----without the bees~~

I really like going to the CAS blog for inspiration, because when I do, about 1/3 of the thinking is done for me!  I can create an original, but I don't need to figure out where to put stuff!  I just choose colors and stamps and go! So many times I find a cute card to CASe, but I like it so much that I don't really make it mine.  I just copy, and I am pretty good at that!  But with the CAS blog, it is more my creation!  Capeesh?

I used the new In Color, Pool Party for the base.  The color selection came from the Color Coach, and I added So Saffron and Not Quite Navy.  The bird is from PTI and the sentiment is from my score at the $1 bin last week!  Aren't they great!

The CS and ink are, of course, SU!  

This is FTL #156 on CAS.  Some have used ribbon for the narrow strip behind the circle, some have used DSP, I went with stamping!  I have these great circle border stamps from PTI that I rarely use, cuz I don't really know what to do with them.  But they were perfect for today!

Tomorrow I will have another card to show you using the same layout.  I actually have a library of sketches on my computer that I refer to when I need something to start with!  Try it!

~~ Blessings ~~

Shelli

The Camera Returns~~!

 Well, when my camera finally returned from Disneyland, it's memory chip would not allow us to add any new photos, and it took me a couple weeks to get "into town" to get a new one......the joys of living in the sticks!

It's all the same I guess since I have been working a lot of extra hours and haven't really been stamping anyway......just the tiniest little bit!

I knew when I saw  it that the Berry Blossoms DSP was a must have!  I adore the rich colors in this set!  Don't forget, it's okay to stamp on DSP, as I have done here.......there is no law against it!

I used the layout from the CAS blog, #155.  

My CS is Calypso Coral with Espresso and Lucky Limeade and a hint of Wisteria Wonder.  Great colors!




 Here is a closeup of the words on the DSP.  I hit pay dirt at my LCS last week!  I found 10 awesome stamps in the $1 bin!  Woo hoo!  I was excited, AND I had a gift card from my recent birthday, so even better right!

Even though Monday is a holiday in the US, it is still Mail-A-Card-Monday!  The postman will have to wait til Tuesday to pick it up, but you can still mail it!

~~Blessings~~

Shelli

Missing Camera~~

My camera went to Disneyland this week with my darling daughters. To say I am jealous of their fun is an understatement. I am excited for them and their first road trip together, but it is a weird feeling to have my children take off to California without me.....really weird.

Anyway, the point of that musing was that I can't take new photos. So I went fishing in my file folder in the computer and came across a few great cards that I did before I had a blog!

This was done at a 10 for $10 class I taught once. Simple coloring on the stamp itself makes this two color image possible. Of course I used my SU markers. I adore them! Thanks to my mom for getting me the original set for Christmas one year! After two color renovations, I have had to redo them but the case and a few of the markers are original. They really do last a long long time!

Have a great weekend! See you back on Monday (unless I get especially motivated when my camera returns!)

~~Blessings~~

Shelli

Two-Fer-Tuesday~~

For today's Two-Fer day, I used a just retired set, that didn't get enough ink time while it was current!

This is one of those sets with little stamps that can be a challenge to figure out how to use, and that's where SU punches come in handy! The sketch is, once again, from the CAS blog, #113.

I pulled the color combo from the Color Coach card with Regal Rose. It also has So Saffronand Chocolate Chip. You gotta have a Color Coach if you stamp with SU! I used the

1 1 /4 inch square punch and the Pinking Hearts border punch here.

The inside of the card needs decorated too! I slapped a strip of DSP in So Saffron across the bottom to pull all the colors together.

The second in the Two-Fer set today, as you can see, is the same as before with color changes. I used Lucky Limeade, Perfect Plum and Riding Hood Red here. I also heat embossed the images with clear powder to try to give them more pop. It looks better IRL!

The color combo also came from The Color Coach on the Lucky Limeade card. I also added Early Espresso for the chocolate piece. Chocolate has to be brown right?

I hope you're inspired to spend some time stamping today! Encourage a friend.....I dare ya!

~~Stamping Smiles~~

Shelli

I Dig You~~

As soon as I saw this set in the new catalog I KNEW I had to buy it to make cards for my adorable Grandson! (Happy 17 month "bday" Logan!)

When I make cards for him I don't add a lot of bling or glitter because he is so little, and the cards are his to do as he likes, and he likes to wrinkle and love on them!

You can likely tell that I used markers to color directly on the stamp to create the dump truck. The other option would be to stamp it all solid but in different colors and piece them together to create the truck. But, I know how Logan likes to "love" on his cards so I opted out of that much work! I just want him to know his Mima' loves him and sends him little reminders!

The layout is right from the good old CAS blog again, #149! Thank you CAS!

The colors are Tangerine Tang, Wild Wasabi, Pacific Point CS. Daffodil Delight, Tangerine and Chocolate Chip markers were used on the Truck!

~~Stamping Smiles~~

Shelli

Kid Fun~~!

I saw a layout on the CAS blog, (FLT#110) and it made me think of the DSP I have had for a while and seldom used. (I am a DSP hoarder....you?)

It is very simple but so cute! I used my Photo Corner punch to create a perfect "flag" on the end of the Bashful Blue CS. The blue peeking out from behind there is Pacific Point, a nice addition to the color family.

I did something a little different. I made the card base white, then cut DSP (the red dotted side) the same size as the card front and added it there, using less colored CS and leaving the inside of the card white for writing on.

Even though this one is not using new goodies, I hope you like it anyway! You gotta go the the CAS blog (in my side bar) for some simple layouts. Sometimes I get out a SS I want to use, then flip through the layouts until something jumps out at me that I think will work. Sometimes I do the opposite. As I am flipping thru layouts, a SS will come to mind. Try it!

~~Stamping Smiles~~

Shelli

Look Ma', no buttons~~!

So here is Button Buddies with NO buttons!

This set has the option of using the image with just ink, or adding buttons on top. Again, I used my markers to color Cherry Cobbler and Wild Wasabi directly on to the stamp. I cut out and extra leaf and popped it up for dimension, but it is mostly a flat card.

The layout is from the CAS blog, FLT #111. Try it!

What does your weekend hold? I hope it includes some stamping time!

~~Stamping Smiles~~

Shelli

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

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

Love for Mothers~~

A special someone deserves this card!

You know how some ladies of the "slightly less than young" persuasion love purple! Well, purple it is!

I started with Elegant Eggplant and Crumb Cake CS. I added the flowers with an old set called Bud Basics and some Eggplant and Old Olive ink. I used the new Four Frames SS and Teeny Tiny Wishes for the greeting. Topped it off with a few pearls and some retired Old Olive striped ribbon! Ta-da! I hope she liked it~!

Happy post-mothers day to all you moms!

~~Stamping Smiles~~

Shelli

Yakkin' Birdies~~

Different day, same sketch! Can you tell? I used the birdies instead of flowers, but it is the same sketch~~

I used Almost Amethyst and white CS. I colored on the birds from the Cheep Talk SS with Amethyst and Pretty in Pink markers as well as Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie for the beaks and legs. I used Certainly Celery ink for the branches.

The ribbon is SU Certainly Celery Taffeta. The button is just from my stash, nothing special. The DSP is ancient SU Amethyst DSP. I have had it forever~!

I think the birdies look like they are talking to each other don't you? I cut them out and used Dimensionals to give them some flair.

I have another lovely to share with you tomorrow......see you then!

~~Stamping Smiles~~

Shelli

Fun Faux Silk~~

I adore the simplistic layouts like this one. You can showcase almost any stamp set with minimal effort!

If you haven't tried the Faux Silk technique, you should. It is super easy. If you know me very well, you know that I don't do complicated. So if I say it is easy, it truly is!

HERE is a link to the tutorial on SCS. Try it. If you have white tissue paper and a glue stick, you can do it!

I got my color combo from the Color Coach by SU.Real Red, Marina Mist, and Old Olive. Striking bold colors I think! I thought about adding more bling, but I was afraid it would take away from the technique, so I left it alone. I will be trying this one again soon!

~~Stamping Smiles~~

Shelli

(AKA Stamping Nerd)

The Monday After~~~

My Easter was fabulous....I hope yours was too! We spent the afternoon watching my daughter dance at a local church and then hanging out with friends......my kind of day!

Last week was SO busy, I didn't stamp for 6 days. 6 days! That's like for-ev-er! I also haven't posted, which I'm sure you noticed! Let's see if this week can be better......

Ok, for this one I used Melon Mambo CS, and DSP from the SAB pack.....Daffodil Delight CS and taffeta ribbon. I used the new Four Frames SS with Mambo ink for the focal point. The greeting is an older retired set. And lastly the brads are just from my LCS. Easy one!

It's Mail-A-Card-Monday! Get to it! I want to hear about that at next club or email me. I enjoy hearing how an unexpected card n the mail has touched someone!

~~Stamping Smiles~~

Shelli