A New Creation!

Well, if anyone has been missing me, you just wouldn't know it. ha!

I have not crafted ANYTHING in a year! Guess I was totally uninspired or just plain burned out! I have, though, been keeping an eye on the online crafty goodness, and occasionally popped in with a comment, or tryed to win blog candy or contests like PTI each month. I just could not bring myself to pick up the scissors or glue!

Until now!!

The Pal's Paper Arts blog challenge LAST WEEK was a beautiful color combo, which suited my project just fine! (I missed the deadline for posting though) I wanted to make a friend of mine a box of note cards because she had done me a HUGE favor. And here it is!!

The box was crafted from a tutorial from Betsy Veldman, of PTI royalty. She had posted the instructions on her blog HERE if you want to try it. It is super easy, and you can decorate to your hearts content!!

I made six note cards to include inside, all matching the box, of course! It was so fun and easy to do! I just made lots of stamped flowers and cut them out, stamped the sentiments and matted each one and added some sewing, and then cut 6 of the Not Quite Navy dsp rectangles, matted and stitched them. Then I just arranged each one differently, and added ribbon here and there!

It took much less time to make the cards than the box, for sure! :)

Can you tell I was totally absorbed in creativity?

The 'I'm Praying for You' card is my favorite of the bunch! But they all turned out great! Even my husband was impressed, and that is not easy to do!

Each note card measures 3-1/2 by 4-7/8 inches. You can't tell from any of the pictures, but I sprayed the box and cards all over with white Smooch Spritz! They shimmer and shine like you would not believe! I love that stuff!!

My friend absolutely loved this gift, and I am not sure if she will be able to send the cards or not. But I hope so, share the love I say!

I will surely be making many more of these gifts for my family and friends. I already have a list of gals I know, who would love them! And tons of color combos and stamp sets in mind!

Thanks for stopping by my blog, if you are here, I appreciate it!

Happy January and 2012!

Sherrie

stamps: Natural Beauty SU, Echoes of Kindness SU, random sentiments

paper: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Vanilla cs SU; Parisian Breeze specialty dsp SU; Urban Garden dsp SU

ink: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Whisper White (craft) SU; Camomile Tea Die Ink PTI

etc: pearls SU, sewing machine, Vanilla satin ribbon PTI, Not Quite Navy taffeta and wide satin ribbons SU, Smooch Spritz, foam dots, runner tape, glue dots

Butterfly Thinking of You Notecard Set

Happy Thursday to you!

As you read this, I am lying in the dentist chair for a check up on my Periodontal disease. It's all good, and should end well. I have been flossing every day and brushing like a maniac! The hygienist should be impressed! Six weeks ago I had all of my teeth deep cleaned, which really was awful, and now they are feeling great. So I hope my gums are healthier now than then.

Today is the day I find out. Fingers are crossed!

Yesterday I shared a card similar to this set of note cards. I am loving this border of butterflies, and couldn't help but go with the flow of the mojo!

How about those shiny beauties, huh? I am telling ya, fun and pretty!

Everything is mostly Stampin' Up!, but the buttons are from Papertrey Ink and the sentiment is Hero Arts.

I am definitely a hoarder, because I could make these cards in any color available from Stampin' Up! and Papertrey Ink!! I really need to use this stuff up! :)

Thanks for putting up with me again today!

Have a good one!

Sherrie

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Thinking of You Notecard Set

3-1/2 x 4-1/4 inches

stamps: SU For All You Do; Hero Arts sentiment

paper: Kiwi Kiss, Cameo Coral, Whisper White; Raspberry Tart Dsp

ink: Basic Black, watermark

etc: SU trim, clear embossing powder, sewing machine, dimensionals, snips, PTI Hibiscus Burst buttons, needle and thread

Pal's Paper Arts Challenge 55 {Color}

Good morning!

Jumping in with a notecard I made for the Pal's Paper Art's Challenge #55.

This time it is a color challenge with Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, and Daffodil Delight.

Great colors! Here is what I created........

I stamped the butterfly several times with Versamark, and embossed them with clear ep before cutting them out.

I used the last strand of Melon Mambo ribbon in my stash, so I sure hope SU! will come out with more of it! Maybe satin?!

Thanks for taking a peek at my creation! Hope you had fun with these colors as well!

Sherrie

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Bright Thank You Notecards

3-1/2 x 4-1/4"

stamps: SU - For All You Do; Thank You Kindly

papers: Turquoise, Daffodil; Razzleberry Lemonade and Pink Flamingo dsp's

ink: versamark, Basic Black

etc: clear embossing powder, snips, sewing machine, ribbon, dimensionals, runner adhesive

Simple Stem and Thank You Notecards {Day 2}

Hey, it's me again!

Yesterday I showed you a totally feminine set of notecards using this digital stamp called 'Simple Stem and Thank You' from Designed2Delight. So today I thought I'd show you a set that is slightly masculine!

I was able to change the color of the digital stamp from black to this gorgeous olive color using free online photo editing software. Let me tell you that I tried every color option and cannot wait to make more cards using blue, brown, or red! So fun!

I printed the digi out on watercolor paper 3 times for this set. The edges were distressed with tea dye inks, and then matted onto awesome papers and cardstock. I punched a little hole in each panel, pulled the velvety black ribbon through, and tied a bit of twine to the ends to secure. The black brads were a finishing touch, as I adhered everything to the black cardstock bases.

Again, a clean and simple interior for personal thoughts and sentiments.

I love that this set of cards could be sent to a guy! It is so hard to find or create manly cards! I showed this set to all of my guys, and they thought they were awesome, and would absolutely enjoy being the recipient of one of them! :)

So there you have it!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderfully creative day!

Sherrie

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Masculine Thank You Notecards

3-1/2 x 4-1/4 inches

stamps: D2D- Simple Stem and Thank You Digital Stamp

paper: Basic Black, Very Vanilla and Wild Wasabi cardstocks; PTI- Dotty Biscotti pp; watercolor

inks: printer; Wild Wasabi, PTI- Tea Dye

etc: SU velvet ribbon; PTI- twine; brads

Designed2Delight Simple Stem and Thank You Notecard Set

Hey there everybody!

Just stopping by today with a little notecard set I made using one of Faith's Dollar Delights called 'Simple Stem and Thank You'. Can you believe it is only $1? And you get two for less than the price of one! Wow, what a deal!!

For this set of cards, I changed the digital stamp from black to a beautiful orange using the free online software from Pixlr.com, which is so easy to use and amazingly fun! (Thank you Kathy!!)

I printed the image out on Very Vanilla cardstock 6 times, 3 of which I stamped over with SU's Canvas background stamp with Groovy Guava ink, and the other three I cut out the blossoms to pop up on top.

I added layers of cardstock and patterned papers, and created a sweet bow with gorgeous satin ribbon. I love how that turned out, it added so much femininity to the cards.

I kept the inside clean and simple so there would be plenty of room for personal sentiments! I just cannot create a card without decorating the inside as well. :)

There you have it, a fairly simple set of pretty notecards! I hope you enjoyed them!

Thanks for dropping by!

Sherrie

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Simple Stem Thank You Notecards

3-1/2 x 5 inches

stamps: D2D- Simple Stem and Thank You digital stamp, SU- canvas background

paper: Whisper White, Very Vanilla, Groovy Guava cardstocks; Afternoon Tea dsp

ink: printer, Groovy Guava

etc: Melon Berry satin ribbon -PTI; button- WalMart; thread, foam dots, runner adhesive

Stitched Flower Notecards with D2D digital stamp!

Okay, first of all, a HUGE apology to Faith and the D2D Creative Team for my blog post absence on Friday! I wish I could have known it was a no-show so I could have fixed it and been a part of all the fun! And wow, did I miss out! Everyone's creations were fantastic! I hopped along the blogs and enjoyed all the creative and colorful cards! I am VERY sorry that I missed out!

So, to make up for it, I am posting a second project I created before my 4th of July camp out, and it uses the new digi 'Stitched Bloom' from Designed2Delight Digital Stamps!

I printed the digi out twice, once on watercolor paper, and secondly on the blue patterned paper. I cut out the white flowers and leaves, colored them and adhered them over the blue layer. They look so bright and cheery, huh? I added a touch of sewing, a second layer of pretty red floral paper, and bam....done.

Easy little notecards!

Thanks for stopping by today, and if you get a chance, check out my previous post for my 'was supposed to publish on Friday' post for the D2D Blog Hop and New Release fun!

Thanks so much!

Sherrie

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Stitched Flower Notecards

3-1/2 x 5 inches

stamps: 'Stitched Bloom' - Designed2Delight

papers: Whisper White; Pink Flamingo and Delicate Dots dsp's; watercolor

inks: Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Summer Sun, Real Red

etc: crystal effects, sewing machine, foam adhesive dots

Grateful For You Notecard set

Good morning!

SSHH!! Everyone is still in bed here at the Conner home, so I am sneaking around with my coffee and getting ready to do some stamping! :) I love it when I can find some quiet time to create, with no one shouting 'MOM' every minute!! Right??

This set of little note cards came into existance quite accidentally. I had cut strips of the Lemon Tart cardstock to die cut the shape for another project, and the frames that were left over inspired this project. Love it when it works out that way!

I stamped the text background on the frames with Chocolate chip ink, and stitched the fabulous buttons on with twine. The I stamped the doodle frame and sentiment on Whisper White cardstock, with Groovy Guava and Choc Chip inks, added the flower stamp, and positioned the cardstock  frame over the image and adhered with foam dots. Then I trimmed away any excess white cardstock, and adhered the panel to the Friends Till the End Dark Chocolate patterned paper.

I die-cut the large scallops from a sheet of Melon Berry cardstock, and attached them to the panel, then adhered the whole thing to the Kraft card base.

 

This was a great project, and I am sure I will make more cards with this window effect in the future. It was so much fun, and pretty easy too!

Here is the inside of each notecard. I really love that flower image!!

Hope you enjoyed my creations today!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Sherrie

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Grateful For You Notecards

3-1/2 x 4-1/4 inches

stamps: PTI- Fillable Frames #2, Background Basics: Text Style II, and Friends 'Till The End

paper: PTI- Lemon Tart, Melon Berry cardstocks; Friends 'Till The End pp; SU- Kraft and Chocolate Chip cardstocks

inks: SU- Chocolate Chip, Groovy Guava

etc: PTI- large scallop die, Lemon Tart and Melon Berry buttons, twine; WalMart- brown buttons; Micheals- foam adhesive dots

You Make Me Smile Note Card

Hello!

Today I have a sweet note card to share with you! It features a hand made flower using the Floral Fusion Sizzlit Die from Stampin' Up!, and those cute corduroy buttons and brads! I love those!

I also added some more ruffled ribbon to this card, I am enjoying it that much!! It is nice to have several different ways to use ribbon, besides just tying a bow or knot! It has helped my mojo for sure!

Here is a close up!

The patterned paper is quite busy, so I kept the embellishments clean and simple to balance the card. I think it works!

Thanks for stopping by and putting up with me today!

Have a good one!

Sherrie

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You Make Me Smile Note Card

3-1/2 x 4-1/4 inches

stamps: Verve - Thankful Hearts

papers: SU - Razzleberry Lemonade dsp, SU - Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White cardstocks

ink: Rich Razzleberry

etc: Floral Fusion Sizzlit die, cuttlebug, Pumpkin Pie corduroy brads, Melon Mambo polka dot ribbon, glue dots, runner tape, dimensional foam dots

Thanks a bunch Note Cards!

Hello!

Jumping in with another note card for you! This one features a cute flower bouquet, and one of my favorite SU colors, Razzleberry!

I watercolored the image with dye inks and my aqua brush, and purposely colored outside the lines! It turned out great with this flower stamp. I added Glossy Glaze to each flower, giving them texture and shine! So pretty!

I also found a use for these cute buttons I found at WalMart a while back! They were a great final touch!

I will be selling this card, in a set of three, in my Etsy shop soon.

~

In other news, we have decided not to sell our house and move. We just love it here too much, and the boys are growing up fast. Soon, my oldest son Josh will be moving out, (sigh) and we will have a little more elbow room. And, as soon as my youngest starts Kindergarten in the Fall, I will be getting a real 9 to 5 job. That will help us out quite a bit. So we are staying put. I do miss my family who live inside the city, but I plan to try harder to visit them more.

I am very happy to be able to hang up all of my pictures and decorations again! The walls are so bare! We are also going to rearrange all of the furniture, and sometime soon, buy a new bed for us, and couches! Woo-hoo! :) I am so glad!

So, hope you enjoyed my little creation there, and I wish you all a great day!

Sherrie

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Thanks a bunch Note Cards

3-1/2 x 4-1/4 inches

stamps: Studio G - flowers; Stampin' Up! - Frames with a Flourish

paper: Razzleberry Lemonade dsp, Old Olive, Whisper White, Razzleberry cardstocks

inks: Old Olive, Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Basic Black

etc: Fiskars edge punch, buttons from WalMart, Old Olive polka dot ribbon, Glossy Glaze,

 thread, dimensional foam dots

Monday, Monday

Hey Monday!!

I had a fantastic weekend here! I hope you all did as well! We rode our dirtbikes all over our property mostly, and did a bunch of yard work. We also went to my fathers house and cleaned out his whole yard, which is very small, and took a load to the dump for him. We felt very accomplished and satisfied with ourselves! His yard looks great. It was a good weekend!

I have been incorporating more Kraft into my craft (ha), and have been enjoying it quite a lot. It really does go with just about any color combo, and adds a definite style and feel all it's own.

This is a set of three small note cards that I enjoy creating. And apparently, my customers enjoy them too! :) I cannot keep them stocked in my Etsy shop long!

Some quick selling tips:

~ Always finish the inside of each card. There should be somewhere for the customer to write.

~Sewing and brad prongs should never show through to the inside of the card. Period.

~Don't be stingy on the glue and adhesives. You do not want your card to fall apart at all. Ever.

~If a customer asks for a custom order, do it. You might acquire a customer for life! :)

~

I am going to get busy stamping and gardening today. I have a ton of card ideas in my head, and the weeds are taking over already! Yikes, which one to do first?? Probably cards!!

Thanks for putting up with me today!

Sherrie

Floral Any Occasion Note Cards

3-1/2 x 4-1/4 inches

stamps: Live Your Dream - SU

papers: Afternoon Tea dsp; Choc Chip, Kraft, Groovy Guava cardstocks

inks: Choc Chip, Guava, Whisper White craft

etc: white embossing powder, heat gun, sewing machine, Guava stitched ribbon, half pearls, dimensionals

Back on Etsy Baby!!

I am back!!

Back to work, that is!

I have been making and selling my greeting cards for about 5 years now. I have sold cards on Ebay, in an online store with a group of cardmakers, at craft fairs and churchs, and am currently selling in my own shop on Etsy.

For a little more than a year now, and I love it!

I had closed my shop for about a month and a half, to get our home organized and painted for selling and moving. Now everything is in place, and we are waiting for a buyer to swing our way. So it is back to regular life while we wait. Selling a home is hard work, I am finding out! Yikes!

So, I am concentrating on things I love to keep my mind off the stress of moving.

Paper crafts it is!!

Please check out my little card shop and my listings and let me know what you think! I love to hear feedback! :)

Also, if you know where I can find a nice header and banner for my blog and Etsy Shop, please let me know. I am not that savvy at graphics on the web, and would really appreciate any info you can give me. I have seen a lot of great blog designs, and I think I am ready to look great too! :)

So, thanks to all!

Check out my shop!

Sherrie

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Any Occasion Glitter Butterfly Note Cards and Card

3-1/2 x 4-1/4 and 4-1/4 x 5-1/2

stamps: SU-Butterfly Accent

papers: SU-Groovy Guava, Kraft, Old Olive, Whisper White cardstocks; Afternoon Tea DSP

inks: Groovy Guava

etc: MS glue pad and half pearls, SU Super Nova Glitter, Old Olive satin ribbon, Whisper White satin ribbon, brad, sewing machine, stipple brush, dimensionals

~

Happy Moments Any Occasion Note Card

Good morning!

We enjoyed some sunshine here in Washington State yesterday, and I spent most of the day outside with my 5 year old son. We rode bikes, threw pinecones and rocks, played fetch with our chocolate lab, and went for a walk around our property. It was a great day! I hope everyone spent some time outside this week!

I have another note card to share today, and this one uses mostly Stampin' Up! products. I had made this card a couple of weeks ago on my kitchen table, for the Pal's Paper Arts Color Challenge 36, but of course I was too late getting it in!

The color challenge was Barely Banana, Lavendar Lace, and Certainly Celery. Great colors for Spring and Baby cards!

Today I am meeting with my Stampin' Up! demo/friend to get my last order from her. She had been sick for a while, and now I cannot remember what I ordered! It's been a month. So, it will be a surprise!

~

I am working on reopening my Etsy shop soon. I want to have many cards and pictures ready to go so that I am not opening an empty shop! I will certainly let you all know when it happens! I am hoping for this next week or so. :)

Okay, thanks for putting up with me today!

Sherrie

Any Occasion Note Card

3-1/2 x 4-1/4 inches

stamps: Happy Moments - SU

papers: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, Lavendar Lace, and some dsp -SU

ink: Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink, Lavendar Lace, Certainly Celery

etc: sewing machine: So Saffron stitched grosgrain - SU; rhinestones; Plum Pudding satin ribbon and button - PTI; border punch - Fiskars

I prayed for you today.

Hey there stampers!

Another small note card to share today. These small cards are fun to make, and I do tend to create a lot of them! So bare with me if you are tired of seeing them! :)

The sentiment is from Clear Dollar Stamps, and as soon as I saw it I had to have it! It is perfect! There are a lot of scripture sentiments and sympathy stamps on the market, but nothing else like this. Simple, yet eloquent. You could send this card out to anyone for any reason. I really like it!

~

Okay, so I did not win any of the Papertrey release week prizes! Darn it! But I did manage to add a bunch more to my Wish List! I bet everyone did that! :)

My Favorites for April are:

Masculine Motifs stamps

YOF: Sweet Peas stamps

Raspberry Fizz Felt

Dotty Biscotti paper pack

Woodgrain Impression Plate

Right?

So many wonderful things released in the last several months! I wish I had about $500 bucks! Wowzers!

~

And, can you believe the Stampin' Up! color revamp?? I am bittersweet about it. I cannot believe they are getting rid of Cameo Coral and Ruby Red! And Taken With Teal??? Are they crazy?? You can bet I will be stocking up!!

But, on the other hand, I love the installment of the new colors! The Daffodil and Cherry Cobbler have my attention, and the older In Colors make me smile A LOT!! I am so glad about the Baja Breeze and Ridinghood Red, Pink Pirouette and Razzleberry!! Woohoo! HAPPY!

If you have not seen the new charts, visit Mary Fish's blog HERE. That is where I learned about them!

~

Okay, I got that off my chest!

I'd better get a move on so I can do more stamping today! (comb your hair, girl!!)

Thanks for stopping in this morning!

Sherrie

I prayed for you today Note Card

3-1/2 x 4-1/4

stamps: Cleardollarstamps- sentiment

papers: Su Basic Gray, Vanilla, and Bo Bunny pp

ink: SU Basic Black

etc: gray corduroy button SU; Flower Fusion die SU; cuttlebug; gray satin ribbon SU; half pearls MS; scallop trim boder punch SU; sewing machine; dimensionals

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Happy Birthday Note Card

Good Morning!

I have another quick post for you today. I just returned from dropping my 5 year old off at preschool, and will have to go back and pick him up shortly. I want to get some sewing done before I go! :)

This is a small note card using my new Blooming Button Bits stamp set from PTI, and some fun SU patterned papers.

Thanks for dropping by today! I hope you are enjoying sunshine where you are!

~

Sherrie

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Happy Birthday Note Card

stamps: Blooming Button Bits-Papertreyink; sentiment from Hero Arts

papers: Sweet Pea dsp, Rose Red and Whisper White cs

ink: Rose Red, Old Olive, Taken With Teal

etc: Hibiscus Burst buttons-PTI, sewing machine, Scalloped Trim border punch-SU, Rose Red grosgrain ribbon-SU, dimensionals, paper snips

Pal's Paper Arts Challenge 37 ~ Too Late!

Hello again!

~

I had made this cute note card for the Pal's Paper Arts Challenge, but I missed the deadline! I actually missed last weeks too. (That happens when your stamping area is in chaos!) I thought I would share it anyways!The Pal's Paper Arts blog is really great if you have a lot of Stampin' Up! stuff to use up. Their challenges are based upon SU products, and the design team uses mostly SU products in their designs. I stumbled upon the blog from Mary Fish's blog, Stampin' Pretty, which I stumbled onto from the Mojo Monday Blog where she is a designer. Boy does she rock! I am going to try to participate in the Wednesday challenges from now on, since most of my stamps and stuff are SU. Should be fun!! (Plus I love their blinkie!)

~
Happy Birthday Note Card

4-14 x 3-1/2 inches

stamps: SU Happy Moments and For All You Do (polka dots)

paper: Choc Chip, Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Whisper White

ink: Basic Black, Whisper White, Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery

etc: SU large oval and scallop oval punches, rhinestones,Certainly Celery Twill ribbon, Fiskars border punch, sewing machine, stipple brush, aqua brush, dimensionals

A little update....

Hey there stampers! I thought I'd jump in with a set of cards I made the other day, and add a little update on our moving situation.

These sweet cards are so Springy and bright! They are really making me wish for sunshine and blue skies!The cardstock and patterned papers are SU, as well as the corduroy brads. The stamped sentiment is Verve, and the half pearls are Martha Stewart. I created the flowers by layering die cut flowers from the SU Flower Fusion Sizzlet die, piercing them, and then attaching the brad. So easy and fun to make!
The colors here are Kiwi, Cameo Coral, and Vanilla. I love that combo!

The stamp used inside is from a little StudioG set that I have had forever! So cute and perfect for stamping around the sentiment panel.

~

We have been on a house hunt, and have found one that really stands out to us. It was listed as a 4 bed, 2 bath but once we were inside realized it was a 5 bed, 2.5 bath because it wasn't finished. The price is right and we do not mind finishing it and painting and such so that it is the way we want it. It is situated on 1.2 acres just on the outskirts of Spokane, WA, and has a 2 car garage as well as a very nice shop that my husband is totally in love with. He is very mechanical, and this is perfect for him. He cannot live without his shop and tools, just as I cannot live without my stamp station and supplies!! My husband has promised to give me one of the bedrooms as my craft room, and will be building me lots of shelves too. I am super excited about that! The smallest room in this particular house is pink, and it has my name written all over it! Especially since I am the only female in the place!! Sometimes there are perks being the only girl! :)

We have notified a realitor, and are preparing to sell our home so that we can bid on this other home. We are going to throw out a lowball to see if the seller will budge a little, since the realitor said they were 'really motivated' to sell. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

~

Also, on a positive note, my younger brother Scott has also found a little home to buy in that same area. He is raising his 3 year old daughter by himself, and has been renting forever. This is so exciting for him, as life has not always been so good to him. I am very happy for him!!

~

I am supposed to be prepping and painting my bathroom right now, but I just had to get my PTI order in today! It took me about an hour to figure everything out. Most of the things I wanted were already sold out, so I will have to make another order soon! Poor me! Right?? Yeah!!

I have closed my Etsy shop now since I will be so busy. It was hard to do because I don't want to close it up. I want to stamp! But, soon enough I will be back in business! Plus I will have a bunch of new untouched stamps to use when I get unpacked. I will be fine! *sigh*

Things are moving along pretty well so far, and it is amazing because we have only just begun. I really hope this will be a smooth transition for my family.

Talk to you all soon!

Sherrie

Pretty Cards, Easy Flowers, and a personal note.

Hello stampers!

The weather here in Eastern Washington has been warmer and dryer than usual, but without any sunshine. So please forgive the dreary photos! :)

I worked on these last week, and thought they were worthy to share. Hope you like them! The sentiment is from Verve Stamps, the half pearls are Martha Stewart, and everything else is Stampin' Up! products, tools, and stamps. {Sorry.....Cuttlebug folder too!}
I keep seeing these really pretty, vintage looking flowers popping up all over stamping land, and wondered how I could make some too, with stuff I already own. So, after rifling through my entire stamping station, I came up with this. I used the Flower Fusion Sizzlet die available through SU, and for each flower cut out 2 of the largest flower, and 1 of the medium. I stacked them together and stitched the corduroy button on. Then I rolled all the petals over the button and between my fingers to curl them up. Ba-da-boom! Awesome right? You can also use the corduroy brads for this, by simply piercing the stacked flowers and inserting the prongs through. Curl as desired. Cute huh? You could even sponge some color onto the petals before assembling them for added contrast and dimension. Also, textured cardstock looks fantastic! I attached the flowers to the cards with multiple glue dots for security.

If you make cute flowers similar to these, please tell me about them and leave a link in the comments. I'd love to see and try them too.
~

Now, on a personal note, my husband and I have decided to sell our home and property, and move closer into town. Into the 'burbs'. We have been rolling the idea around for about a year, and have decided it will be best for our family. We live up on a hill on 20 forested acres, about 40 miles from Spokane, WA. Basically in the boonies, which is how I have referred to it since we moved here in 2003. It is beautiful here, and we have the most fantastic view of the surrounding mountains, including the north side of Mt. Spokane. My husband thought he would love it here for the rest of our lives, but has now realized how hard it is physically, financially, and emotionally to be so isolated. I moved here because I love my husband, and truly have tried to love it too. I accepted that we would live here forever. I have been a stay at home mom for almost 6 years, and it has taken a toll on us financially, and me emotionally. I do not like being alone, I need people. And there are no jobs out here for me. I have been selling my handmade cards on etsy and ebay for about 5 years, but it only enables me to buy new stamping supplies and goodies, and Christmas gifts. All of my family lives inside Spokane, and I have hardly seen them for the last 7 years. I am so happy that I will be able to get back into their lives and be a part of 'family' again. My husband is getting excited about a smaller yard to maintain, and having free time with the family! My kids are SO happy it is unbelievable. My 5 year old only knows this place, but even he wants to live in a neighborhood with other kids to play with. And we all want to ride our bikes on concrete!!
We are meeting with a realtor on Friday, and are getting the ball rolling. We have a huge 'to-do' list of things to paint, clean, clear and burn before we will be ready to go. This means that I will not be *heavy sigh* stamping *gulp* very much, and actually have to pack up my stamping station *sigh* very soon so we can finish painting the interior of the house. {lots of tears and heart palpitations} Just the thought of NOT stamping is freaking me out! I get really crabby when I think about it, or think about boxing up all of my stuff. It really weighs heavy in my heart because I love it so much, and have come to depend on it for my sanity here in the wild. I am going to go through some serious withdrawals!! What's more, is that I have to get a 'real' job once we get settled, and probably will not be able to stamp much or even sell cards on etsy anymore. {Major tears} I will miss it so much! And I will miss everyone here in blogging/stamping land too!
I really hope that once things settle down, and we get into a new life routine, I will be able to have time for my passion. My fingers are crossed! And I will keep you posted!
~
Thanks for putting up with me!
~
Sherrie

I cannot sew!

Yes. It's true. I cannot sew. I am needle challenged.

And what's more interesting, is that I am the daughter of a seamstress and a sewing machine repair man! My mother can sew anything, and in any form of needle craft there is. She can make clothing from patterns, and probably without, knit, crochet, cross stitch, needle point, the list goes on and on. When my parents met long ago, she was working at a coat and clothing manufacturer, while my father was the head machine repair man. She would purposely do things to her sewing machine so that Dad would have to come and fix it! So funny! After they started dating, Dad got a job managing a mattress factory, fixing huge quilting machines that stitch the pillow tops we all know and love.

My mom must have been in needle craft heaven after I was born, because I remember that she would make a lot of my clothes. Boy did I hate it! I was the only girl at that time, between two brothers, and I was a really big tom-boy! I wanted to do everything my brothers did. So when Mom would make me wear handmade dresses or plaid pants with knitted sweaters and saddle shoes, I protested! I'd have rather worn my brother's hand-me-downs! I REALLY hated picture day at school too. She would make me wear rollers in my hair all night. You remember those prickly and stiff ones held in place with bobby pins? You just cannot sleep while they are digging into your scalp!

Looking back, I have to say that those clothes were pretty cute, but you do not realize what a good thing you had until you are old enough to look back! LOL!

I do remember my mother trying to teach me to crochet, just the simple loop around the finger chain. And I made a few very small blankets for my dolls, and some very short scarfs. But I just did not take to it, and I think my mom gave up and let me go play outside!

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Boy, do I wish I had paid attention now! Sewing on cards is a must, and it looks so pretty. But every time I approach my sewing machine with a piece of gorgeous cardstock, or a stamped and water colored image, I get sweaty palms and heart palpitations!! You'd think I was about to give a speech in front of 1,000 people! It is so scary to me! So I have to take a deep breath, and wipe my hands, and just do it. Slowly. Very carefully. And, I must say that I am getting better at it. One card at a time. Just don't ask me to sew a busted seam, or patch a worn knee. That's my husbands job!

Stamps: Echoes of Kindness, SU

Papers: Razzleberry, Orchid, Whisper White cardstocks; Cottage Wall dsp, SU

Inks: Old Olive, Razzleberry, Orchid

Etc: Razzleberry ribbon, Scallop Trim border and ticket corner punches, buttons, and SEWING!

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Thanks for putting up with me!

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Sherrie