Friday, April 30, 2010

Bea loves Tea



So, let me start by apologizing for not posting on my blog for a week. I should have posted these cards when they were finished, instead of waiting till the end. Hind sight.
I know this wonderful woman. She is very kind, giving, and generous with her time. She will be there for you, let you lean on her, she is just Great. Her birthday is this month, and yes it has passed. But, there is a small group of us, who get together for our birthdays. And tonight we are getting together to celebrate her birthday! As honorer, you get to pick the location, and if its lunch or dinner. (So, I am in the process of getting ready and posting this, its been a busy day.)
For those of you who know me, know I love coffee. So much so, I had to purchase my own super automatic espresso machine. I buy my bean whole. Well, my friend Bea is just as passionate about her tea. I saw this stamp set by Verve and its so perfect for Bea. So, I bought two. One to give her, and one to use to make her some cards.
The solid card stock, ink, background stamp, punches, and ribbon is from Stampin' Up! and the pattern paper is from Basic Grey (Cappella collection).
Thanks for looking. Have a wonderful weekend, and post a comment. Share your thoughts.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Blog Candy Winner

Debby has been selected as the winner for my latest blog candy. Debby will be receiving a package of retiring card stock in the color of her choice. Debby please contact me. Here is what Debby said: I will miss most of the colors, but I know a color change will help SU grow to. I will miss blush blossom, close to cocoa, taken with teal and the purples. I know a lot of them but I loved them all.
I am looking forward to Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist looks so pretty. Angel hugs Debby

Friday, April 23, 2010

Garden Gate for CTD #89, and JAI #14

Since time is precious, I have created one card for two different challenges. (Time management, is a wonderful thing.) Color Throw Down #89 : Almost Amethyst, Sage Shadow, Bordering Blue. Just Add Ink #14 : Just Add Vintage. I especially love how these soft, delicate colors work so well together. I have started experimenting with shabby chic style, and adding vintage seems easy today.
My card base is a bordering blue panel. I inked the background stamp first with VersaMark ink, and then added some Bashful Blue classic ink randomly onto the background stamp, and then stamped my background. While the card stock was on the background stamp, I 'walked' my fingers on the card stock, so the stamp would randomly 'stamp' the card stock, giving the card base a weathered look. The 'Garden Gate' panel, is actually a tag. I matted that with a scrap piece of sage shadow and sponged some close to cocoa ink along the edges. I wanted to add some accent to the flower centers, but couldn't think of something 'flat'. So, I adhered some yellow seed beads to 5 of the flower centers. I ran a scrap piece of almost amethyst card stock through my big shot inside an embossing folder to give the paper some texture. I inked the embossed areas with almost amethyst ink, and then sponged some close to cocoa ink along the edges. For my 'its time to Bloom' tag, I stamped the words in Very Vanilla craft ink onto a scrap of water color paper, and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. I took some sage shadow ink and did a bit of resist technique on it. I them edged the tag and the scallop oval with close to cocoa ink. I sponged a little Sahara Sand classic ink on the very vanilla satin ribbon, to help cut down on its sheen. The green flower I had in my stash, so I sponged a little close to cocoa ink on it.
Thank you for looking, and I hope you take a moment to browse some of my other posts. Also don't forget to post a comment about the new colors for Stampin' Up!

Sunday, April 18, 2010

compose a card with Becky #9

I have seen Becky's post and card challenges for awhile and I have always wanted to play along. So, here is my entry. I used all Stampin' Up! products. The DSP is retired. The 'merci' is from a retired stamp set. The close to cocoa card stock that each square is matted on, will soon be retired. I cut a tiny strip of white card stock and ran it through the button's holes. I used the new tiny tag punch to create my tag. I spritz the card with very smooch, and the card base with log cabin smooch.
Thank you for looking, and please post a comment. If you want to purchase any of these products, you can shop on my website: http://www.inkwithsharon.stampinup.net

Friday, April 16, 2010

Happy Birthday Tara




I hope my daughter doesn't read my blog everyday. This is her Birthday card. Her boyfriend is throwing her a surprise party, tomorrow!
I used products from at least 8 different company's: Stampin' Up!, K & Company, 7 Gypsies, Paper Trey Ink, Making Memories, Scenic Route, Clear Snap, and Dress it Up. If you have any questions, as to where I purchased my products, or the names of any specific product, please contact me.
I wanted to try my hand at making her an unique, and very special card. She is an incredible person. Tara, is a wonderful daughter, a great mother, a caring sister, and a terrific friend! She is turning 25 on Monday.
Have a terrific weekend, and don't forget to spend some time with those you love and hold dear to your heart.
I am giving away some blog candy, please check out my posting about the new colors Stampin' Up! is bringing in on July 1st. If you need to add to your supply of retiring colors, please order threw my website: www.inkwithsharon.stampinup.net

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Thank You, for your order

When someone places an order with me, I always include a hand-stamped, blank card in their order. I think that its nice to have a few cards on hand, just in case. I have some Stampin' Up! customers who keep all these cards, and I have some customers to actually use them. I'm happy either way. So, back to this card...
I saw the wonderfully creative cards Carrie Gaskin had done on Stamping 411. And that is where I saw this pretty stylish card. I changed the colors, and added some ribbon. I like how it turned out.
Don't forget to post a comment on the 'color renovation' entry for your chance to win some blog candy!

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Color Throw Down #87

I saw the color challenge on a wonderfully talented paper crafter, VA Sunshine, and I just love her work.
I stamped the flowers in pretty in pink, and the flourish in certainly celery. I stamped the french filigree in whisper white craft ink and used clear embossing powder. I thought the just stamped images needed something. I stamped my bird in basic grey classic ink. Re-stamped the bird on a scrap piece of card stock, cut him out and used dimensional to give him some lift off the card. All supplies used are Stampin' Up!

SU! Birds Card Class #4

[Ok, for those who visited my blog earlier, you know that I removed an image. I had posted a different card as #4. Then, when I finished posting the last card and 'thank you' gift, I noticed that #4 seemed out of place. So, I re-made the #4 card.]

Happy Saturday! This is the fourth card for the SU! Birds Card Class that is being held at my house on two different days; tomorrow or next Saturday. I thought maybe some of you would like to see them all, so I am getting my act together and getting them downloaded to my blog. Life has been crazy busy these last few months. Don't know why. But, I don't seem to have as much time as I use to have. Or maybe, I'm slowing down. I don't know, but I don't like it. If you purchase a kit, you also get a bird house 'thank you' box.
I like this bird from Best Wishes & More stamp set, because it is really versatile. You can put it on a branch, or leave him walking on your card. He is a nice size too, so he won't get lost, and he's not too overwhelming.
I had to use my favorite color - Close to Cocoa. I used Bermuda Bay to help anchor the card. I spritz some card stock with water, and crumbled it, and then flattened the card stock, put it into my three flower punch and that is how I made my flowers. I dipped the end of my stylus into the champagne shimmer paint to create the center of the flowers. I used glue dots to attach the flowers to the card.

SU! Birds Card Class #5 & 'Thank-You' gift


Ok. These are the rest of the things for my SU! Birds Card Class. This is card #5, and the little bird house 'thank you' gift for attending my class. I guess somedays, you just need 30 minutes to yourself to get things together. Now that I have all my cards together, instead of individually, I don't think card #4 goes with the group. Post a comment. I'm thinking of changing the colors. Because the other cards all seem to go, except that one. I'll recreate it, use the same layout, just change the colors.

Friday, April 9, 2010

New Colors Coming

Stampin' Up! has announced a color change! To launch the new Big Idea Catalog on July 1st, 2010, Stampin' Up! has changed the colors and color families. There will only be 4 color families, with no 'In Colors'. So, if your favorite color isn't in the new colors, you have until June 30th (or while supplies last) to get your supplies of card stock, ribbon, ink pads (classic or craft) and markers. Kraft is not retiring, its name has been changed to 'Crumb Cake'. You can place your order with me, or on my website http:www.inkwithsharon.stampinup.net

Let me know what color you will miss and what color you are anxious to see. By posting your comments, your name will be placed in a drawing for a package of the retiring card stock you will miss. (The color will be determined by your comments.) A winner will be selected on April 25th.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Happy Birthday (past)



For those who know me, when I make a card, I don't make just one card. I typically make at least 6 or more of the same card. You never know when you will need one, and why not have a few on hand.
The ladies who have joined my card clubs know this first hand. Each time a customer places an order with me, I always include a hand-stamped unsigned card to their order. This is my way of thanking them for their order. Its an extra card they have on hand incase they need one in a jiffy! Or, they can simply collect them for inspiration, or layout design.
When one of my card club members is having a birthday, I always give them a birthday card on their birthday month. This is an extra birthday card from one of those events. I make a different card each month. I must have counted wrong, or something, because I came across this card in my stash. I think it was sent out for November birthdays, but I could be wrong.
I wanted to share this card with you, because the more I look at it, the more I really like it.
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to look at what I've been up to. If you need any Stampin' Up! supplies, please shop at my website @ www.inkwithsharon.stampinup.net

Saturday, April 3, 2010

SU! Birds Card Class #3

This is the 3rd card for the SU! Birds Card class. Please look at the previous post (SU! Birds) for card #1 and card #2. I really like this stamp set. I'm not really sure as to why, but I do. I wanted to try something a little different. I first stamped the flowers in cameo coral. But, to me, they needed something. They looked clean and crisp, but I wanted a little something more. So, I stamped them again in blush blossom. I almost stamped again, but held back. I wanted a different color combo, so this is what I came up with. For some reason I have been on a green and blue streak, and wanted something a little different. Well, I guess that is the theme for today "something a little different". LOL. When I was selecting the ribbon color, I almost went with the very vanilla satin ribbon. It gave the card a more feminine look. That's not bad, I just thought the brown held the card 'together' if that makes any sense. But, if you sign up for the card class, I will let you pick which ribbon you want. And if you decide to make 2 of each card, you can always do one of each!
Thanks for looking. Please contact me to sign up for the SU! Birds Card Class! And if you live out of town (Albuquerque) I can mail you a kit for $5 shipping.

Friday, April 2, 2010

DCBD #171

I work with a wonderful group of ladies. This is the Easter card I had made for each of them. I wanted something beautiful and not so cutesy. All products used are from Stampin' Up! I used the Shades of Spring DSP for the pattern paper. I really like the polka dot paper mixed with pattern paper, so that is why I selected those two sides of the double sided paper. I used the Abundant hope stamp set. I stamped the flowers with basic brown, so when I 'color'ed them, the inks wouldn't bleed. I used my blender pen with so saffron and more mustard for the flower heads. I used certainly celery and old olive for the greenery. I wanted to keep the centers of the flowers white, but with a little pizazz. So, I used the white shimmer paint to 'color' the centers. I used certainly celery satin ribbon. I thought the old olive was just too much.
Thank you for looking, please post a comment, and you can shop at my Stampin' Up! online 'store' 24 hrs a day! @ www.inkwithsharon.stampinup.net