Walk on the wild side!

Hi, everyone!

It's been awhile since I worked on a birthday card.  Those darned Valentines are just so tempting to make! I don't know about you, but I think I have more fun making holiday themed cards than any other kind. Maybe it's because it takes you back to your childhood when you waited to see how many valentines you had in the decorated cigar box you made at school. (Am I the only one old enough to remember decorating boxes for your cards?)

Well, enough rambling!  On to the birthday card! I wanted something that feels like spring so I pulled out one of my favorite Penny Black stamps.

I used a Spellbinder Resplendent Rectangle to mat this and the paper is from Simple Stories (Summer Fresh 6x6 pad).  I went with a twine bow to make it easier to mail.

I'm entering this in the following challenges:
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Created With Love-Challenge #74 Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Use Twine or String

Have a great Friday tomorrow!  The weekend is almost here!
Sherri

Sending Stamped Hugs!

Hi, again!

I thought I was done with get well cards for awhile, but needed another one today for my nephew. Since he has a great sense of humor, I thought I would go with something a little different than I normally do.  This sassy nurse if from Bugaboo Stamps.

The punched corner is from a Paper Shapers punch I've had for many years.  The paper is from my stash.

Catch you all tomorrow! Hump Day is just around the corner!!
Sherri

Oh, Baby!

Hi, everyone!

I wonder how many of you can see out of all of your windows today?  My upstairs windows are frosted over  completely from the snow & wind we had last night.  I hate not being able to look out the window & see what's going on! And it looks like we have hit the high for the day already, as I see it is 3 above now. They are calling for 10 below tonight again.  I can't remember a winter this cold EVERY day!  Brrrrr!

To change gears today, I have a baby card to share.   I had planned to work on some birthday cards this morning, but a call from a friend changed my mind.  She is about to become a grandma again today.  Her daughter-in-law is in delivery right now. For any of you who have not yet become a grandmother, I want to tell you it is God's way of letting you win the lottery of life.  There is nothing more wonderful in this world! From the first minute you lay eyes on them, they have you wrapped around their finger!

Although I have a whole drawer with just baby stamps, I also have this amazing baby buggy die from Marianne Designs, so I decided to go with that instead.  This is what I came up with.

I started out by embossing polka dots on my card front. Next came a Spellbinders Timeless Rectangle followed by a Marianne Design oval.  A couple of buttons & a touch of blue gingham paper & I was done.

The hungry's are calling me.  Time to go wrangle up some lunch!

Stay warm and have a wonderful week!

Sherri

Guess what?

Hi, again!

Bet you can't guess what I am sharing today!  Yup, another Valentine!  I have to admit, though, that I really DO love making Valentines.  And Christmas cards and Halloween cards..... ha ha  I love all the holidays, basically.  I think I may be the only person I know (except for maybe Tonda) who actually has a Happy May Day stamp! Don't laugh.  It came in handy when my grandson was little! And better yet, I got it on sale!

Today's card is another of those darling chubby little fairies from A Day For Daisies.

I kept this one pretty simple.  I cut her out with a Lifestyle oval, added a Joy Craft heart and got one of my Valentine border punches from Martha Stewart for the bottom edge.  I should have shown you the inside too. The opposite edge of the white border under the scallops has yet a different border punch with hearts.  You have to love Martha!  She comes up with the perfect punches for every holiday and just when you think you have seen (and bought) them all, she manages to come up with a new version!

I hope you are enjoying the weekend!  Stay warm!

Sherri

Pretty In Pink

Hi, everyone!

I bet you are all saying "TGIF" about right now, aren't you!  Especially those of you who have been on this cold or snowy roller coaster ride!  While today was actually 48, the cold is coming back tonite & bringing wind & that lovely "wintery mix" we have all grown to love!

On a brighter note, Valentine's Day is fast approaching & you all know what that means! CHOCOLATE!!!
So in an effort to get my Valentine cards done, I spent the afternoon concentrating on another one.

I've had this cute digi from Wee Stamps @ Cuddly Buddly for a long time & thought she would make a cute Valentine.  The embossed hearts are done with a Sizzix Scallop Heart embossing folder which I then fussy cut.  The doily is a Cheery Lynn French Pastry and the smaller heart is Cheery Lynn's Two of Hearts.

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

Delightful  challenges-You have my heart

Sister Act Card Challenge-#41 Anything goes
Stamp ‘n’ Doodle challenge # 3-Use a doily

Cute card Thursday - #305 So Sweet

Oh, goody!  Mr. Blogger is acting up again tonite.  TGIF for sure!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sherri

Change of plans!

Hi, everyone!

A slight change of plans for today.  I had originally intended to work on some Valentines after making a double batch of caramels, but learned I needed another sympathy card.

Today's card was created with Heartfelt Creations Decorative Lace Border, Spellbinders Radiant Rectangles, some ribbon & a flower from my stash.  I'm hoping this is the last sympathy card I will need for a long time!

As for the caramels.....a word of advice!  Do NOT double the recipe unless you have a HUGE pot! ha ha I had forgotten what happens when candy boils, but it didn't take me long to remember!  Needless to say, I was scrambling to divide the double batch into 2 pots & cussing myself for my stupidity!  In the end, though, the caramels were a success!  If anyone wants a really simple caramel recipe, just let me know! ha ha

Have a great Friday!!
Sherri

And so it begins..

Hi, everyone!

The beginning of another week is here already. It was a fun weekend and we actually enjoyed a record temperature of 65 on Sunday!  It was glorious!  But this is Iowa!! lol   So, of course, in keeping with the wild weather ride we have had all winter, we are expecting snow flurries this afternoon and a low tonight of 7 BELOW!

I had planned to work on something else today, but needed a sympathy card so I worked on that instead.

 I like to keep sympathy cards in soft colors.  I also have a preference for keeping them simple, but elegant. With that in mind, I used Spellbinders Radiant Rectangles in alternating layers of color.

This is the inside of the card.  I love this sentiment from Lizzie Anne & use it a lot. The sentiment on the front is from My Sentiments Exactly.  

So there you have it, and the snow has started to fall!  All I can say is that furry little rodent had better not see his shadow in a couple of weeks!  I'm not sure I can take another 6 more weeks of winter if he does!

Have a great week!
Sherri

I Love You!

Happy Friday!

Another week gone & time to relax.  I decided to work on my Valentines again this afternoon & grabbed this cutie from A Day For Daisies that I had colored up a couple of weeks ago.  I fell in love with her & immediately thought she would make a perfect Valentine.

I matted her with Spellbinder Majestic Labels 25 and added Cheery Lynn hearts topped with a Martha Stewart punched heart to finish.  The sentiment is from my stash, and unfortunately, it was a clear stamp that has no name on it.

I have another little fairy colored up & some more Valentine ideas for her so you may see this little gal again!

Have a great weekend!
Sherri

Back to Normal

Happy Hump Day, everyone!

Things are back to normal today!  After yesterday's post, I simply had to get back to the cute, cheerful, whimsical, happy cards I love.  Which of course brings me back to a lot of my favorites, starting with the digi which is from Sassy Cheryl. I love this one & thought it would make a good "sitting here with my tea, missing you & feeling the winter blues" kind of card.  Even the poor cat is looking out the window waiting for spring to come again so he can get back outside & chase the birds!

I colored her with my Prismacolor brush markers and then paper pieced the chair. I wanted it to match the curtains.  The window is a Memory Box die (Grand Madison Window). The curtains are a new die  from Poppy Stamps called Lacy Curtains and both the bare branch (which I've had awhile) and the cat (which I got for Xmas) are from Impression Obsession dies.  I used an embossing folder from Embossalicious for the wallpaper & lightly sanded it.  I'm entering this in the following challenges:

 Sassy Cheryl - Challenge #199 Winter Blues

Just Us Girls- Challenge #223 Paper Piecing

Simon Says Stamp - Embossing Folders

Die Cuttin' Divas - Challenge #148 -Out with the Old, In with the New

I'm ready to strangle Mr. Blogger right now.  He has dumped me twice.  Cross your fingers!  Make that THREE times, he has dumped me!  Grrrrr!!!!!   I'm going to stop for the day & hope this will actually post now!

Have a great day!

Sherri 

Did I do this?

Hi, everyone!

I'm looking at today's post & wondering what in the world ever possessed me to do it! ha ha  This card is SO not me!  All I can say is I was playing around this morning thinking I should try something different & this is what happened....

I had this cool paper I got at Michaels and I had this old image I found on Digital Two for Tuesday which I printed on cream paper.  A few valentines from Cheery Lynn & Heartfelt Creations and it was an easy card. The only problem is, it's not my style & the only one who would probably like it is my sister who adores antiques and anything that looks old!  I'll be going back to the "real" me tomorrow!

Catch you later!
Sherri

Not feeling beary good?

Hi, again!

I hope you are all having a warm spell right now & enjoying it like I am!  It's actually 46 ABOVE today!  If the sun would just come out, it would be a perfect day! Unfortunately, it's gloomy, dreary & gray.  I guess it would be asking too much to have a warm AND sunny day so I'll settle for warm!

This is another get well card that will make it's way to my son-in-law.  He will probably get well faster just to stop the flood of cards!  ha ha

I made this one into a step card so he can sit it somewhere to see it better.  The image is from Inky Antics again.  They have some really cute stamps & a lot of my favorites over the years have been theirs.  The bandaids, RX bottle & sick cutouts were all from my Hugware.

I'm behind in my Valentines now, so I'm off to see what I can come up with for my next post.  Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Sherri

Wishing you "Re-leaf"

Hi, all!

Yes, I realize that is really not how you spell relief!  But when you see today's get well card, you will understand.  This is from Inky Antics and I'm hoping this cute duck will cheer up our patient & give him a smile.

Isn't he a cutie?  Love his rain boots!!  I used a Spellbinder die to perk it up a little and more of that great polka dot paper from Michael's card packs.

I hope you had a great Saturday!  It was actually above freezing here today!  I think that gave everyone a really good day! Anything above freezing feels like a summer day now!

Catch you later,
Sherri

Dog Days of Winter

Happy Friday!

I bet everyone is glad to see the end of this cold week!  They keep saying the temperatures are going to get warmer starting tomorrow. YEAAA!!  These really are the dog days of winter! lol

I have another get well card today.  This will go to my sweet SIL too.

Isn't this a cute image?  It's by Stampavie. I stamped it twice, once on white paper & once on the background paper so I could cut it out and paper piece the chair.  I matted it with Spellbinders Labels Eighteen, punching keyholes in each side with a Stampin Up keyhole punch. A bit of ribbon from my stash & he was done. 

I'm on a "critter" roll!  I'm working on a bear get well to post tomorrow, and just finished a duck! My desk looks a lot like a zoo at the moment.  

Have a great weekend!

Sherri

How's it going?

Hi, all!

After the world's longest post yesterday, I'm keeping today's really short.  While I spent the day making get well cards, I am only sharing one tonight.  I loved them both, but decided this one would be a good one to use to enter a challenge with.  It's been awhile since I entered a challenge & a good friend gave me some encouragement so here I go!  I'm entering this in the latest challenge at 613 Avenue Create #53 Anything Goes.  This site is new to me, and I was so impressed with it that I joined immediately.  You should check it out yourself!  It looks like a lot of fun!

This little charmer is a Mo Manning digi. I used a Spellbinder Tile Works die to cut him out and Memory Box's Pinecone Corner.  The sentiment is computer generated.  I'm planning on sending this to my sweet son-in-law who is having surgery on Monday.  Hopefully, it will give him a chuckle!

Thanks for stopping!  I'll be back tomorrow with a paper pieced card.

Stay warm!
Sherri

Cleaning Day

Hi, again!

I have to start out with a confession.  I had planned to spend yesterday working on Valentines.  I actually did make a quick one before I decided I had to stop & rearrange my whole room.  While I am lucky enough to have a whole room I can use for my craft room, it is a dormer.  A very SMALL dormer! ha ha So trying to cram all my craft supplies into it can get tricky & often leads to it looking really cramped. You just get to that point when you can't stand it & know you need to try another arrangement. Yesterday was that day. It took me all day, but it was worth it.  I feel more organized, and certainly gained a tiny bit of room too.

This is the view as you climb to the top of the stairs. On the left is my computer desk (and Brady's chair). 

A

A closer look. I keep my markers and pencils handy at all times. 

 This is the row of cubes to the right of my craft desk. There is a row of cubes across from these on the other side of the aisle leading to the guest bed. These hold all my rubber stamps and some of my punches. The overflow & dies are on top. Everything is labeled. I keep stamps by category..Xmas images, Xmas Sentiments, Halloween, Thank You, Get Well, etc. etc.

 It's a little easier for you to see that there actually IS a bed at the other end of the room. If you look really closely, you can see a black shape on top of the bed.  That would be Mr. Brady taking his afternoon siesta!

On the left as you come up the stairs, more storage, my tv, more stamps & computer desk. The huge baskets looking like they are overflowing are Martha Stewart punches that won't fit into the cubes. I think she at least owes me a weekend at her mansion for all the punches I've bought, don't you!  ha ha

More paper storage.  I "may" have a paper problem too!  It's been rumored......just saying! ha ha

Ok, this has to be the world record for longest posting!  I almost forgot the Valentine!  This was a quick one. Nothing colored, just lots of great dies.  Started with the lace from Heartfelt Creations, added a solid white from Spellbinders, the row of hearts from Memory Box, a large heart from Cheery Lynn, the red heart from Joy Crafts and a tiny heart from a Martha Stewart punch. I popped the hearts up with pop dots.

Whew! I'm winded from this huge post!  Tomorrow I hope to get back to some coloring!

Catch you later!
Sherri

Brrrrr!!!

Brrr!  One word says it all better than anything else I could say!  We are now up to a balmy 6 below zero and the wind is blowing.  I'm not sure what the actual wind chill is, as my weather alert only shows the actual temperature.  When I was reading last night it was already around 38 below wind chill and that was around 9. Our weather alert goes until Tuesday, so  I guess we just hunker down.  I can tell you, even with a new furnace, it feels cold in the house.  I can't imagine having to go outside in this and work outside today!

I got some new dies & stamps for Xmas and one of the stamps is a darling snowman from Stamping Bella called Frostier.  It came too late for Xmas, of course, but it was so cute I had to stamp it up. I tried thinking outside the box this time. I wanted to send a get well card to my son-in-law.  Even though I have more get well stamps than the average person, he has had so many surgeries over the years that by now I've used all of them on cards for him.  So I decided to make this one into a get well card.  There is something so sweet about the snowman bending over to hold the little bird that it reminded me of a gesture of love.

I colored it with my Prismacolor brush markers and paper pieced the scarf with the background paper. The snowflakes are from a new die by Simon Says Stamp (Eliza Snowflake) that is now my favorite snowflake!
The sentiment is from an old Stampin Up set.

Time to get busy!  Stay warm!!
Sherri

Cuddle up!

Hi, everyone!

Are you staying warm?  If you are in the midwest right now, this question will make sense to you!  We are getting a major arctic cold  wave and by Monday morning they are predicting wind chills of over 50 BELOW zero!  Tomorrow will be a balmy 25-35 below wind chill.  Our normal average temps for Iowa at this time of the year are supposed to be around 30 degrees above!  So, hunker down, gals!

I worked on some Valentine cards this afternoon.  I thought maybe I would get a head start on them.

This first card was done with an old Penny Black Stamp I've had a long time & still enjoy. Of course, because it is a cat, I find it hard to resist!   I added a border of red hearts made with Memory Box Heart Chain Border.  The beautiful hearts are from Cherry Lynn Designs Two of Hearts dies.  A little glitter and he was done.

This second card is also a Penny Black Stamp.  I adore hedgehogs! My daughter actually bought me a stuffed one that looks exactly like these two charmers & it sits on my cabinet upstairs.  I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong but whenever I use this particular polka dot paper, it always photographs so brightly it almost looks like neon!  ha ha  Suffice it to say, it looks much better in real life!  The bottom edge was done with Spellbinders A2 Bracket Borders One. The sentiment is from Craftsmart.

I'm guessing I will be staying inside the rest of the weekend (hopefully) and working on cards so I'm sure I will be back with something else tomorrow.

Stay warm!
Sherri

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!!

Are you all ready to start remembering to write 2014 instead of 2013?  I remember how hard it was when I was working & you had to type the date on a ton of export documents, remembering to change it to the new year each January. We are all creatures of habit, after all, and when you have typed one number for a whole year, your hands just automatically typed it in January!  lol

To start the new year, I played with some of my dies last night, trying to come up with some Valentine cards I liked.  I only had time to make two before I decided a mystery was calling my name & I abandoned my task in favor of the Kindle. Here is the first version I came up with.

The red polka dot paper isn't quite as "bright" as it appears here.  I started out going for an all white card but decided it needed a pop of color & this red sure does the trick!  I used a Martha Stewart border punch for the bottom edge and embossed the card with a polka dot embossing folder.  Next, I added a square from Spellbinders Decorative Labels One, followed with the large heart from Heartfelt Creations Timeless Amour collection.  Another Martha Stewart heart punch in red and it was done.  The sentiment is from a $1.29 stamp I got at Ben Franklin but it has no name on it at all.

My second card is my favorite!  Probably because it has more layers of lace.

I cut a 5 1/2 inch card, rounded the corners and then started layering it with a Martha Stewart punch around the page set, followed by Spellbinders Adorning Squares, then a smaller version of the MS punch, another smaller size of the Adorning Squares and a MS heart punch.  Simple, but really feminine.  It reminds me of those beautiful lacy cards we used to get "back in the day" when I was much younger. Back then you had to take a valentine for everyone in your class & we decorated boxes to put them in. And there was always that one special person in your class that you hoped would give you a really good valentine. I hope they haven't done away with exchanging valentines as it was such a fun part of the whole holiday! In trying to be so politically correct, they have really ruined a lot of wonderful memories for kids these days.

Catch you later!
Sherri