Feminine Pretty

I wanted to create something pretty this weekend. My husband has been out of town for several days, and so I had the time to work on my paper crafting. As I browsed the Internet for a challenge, I came across Dawn's blog (color cue 11). She has a color challenge, that fit the bill: Aqua, Pink, White + any neutral. That sounded girl-y. But, I needed a little more push. So, I started looking at some of my favorite challenge blogs, and looked at JUGs . I haven't played in their challenges for a while, and this was my perfect opportunity. Their challenge is a to create a 3-D flower (JUGs69); Perfect!

So, like I said, my husband has been out of town. This translates to: I can craft all-day/all-night, in any space, and leave my stuff anywhere. Come on crafters, you know what I mean.

Ok, back to my entry. PTI has a wonderful Aqua (Aqua Mist) and a super pretty pink (Sweet Blush). SU! has wonderful stamps, crochet trim, great Crumb Cake card stock, pretty half peals, and this new DSP First Edition. So, I got all my favorite products out, and started to play. I didn't want to just make a card, so I altered a notebook, and made a card. (The notebook I'll show you today, the card I'll post tomorrow.) Without further ado, here is my entry:

Now, you tell me, wasn't it worth the wait? This is one of those works, that isn't completed in a hour, or even an afternoon. I tinkered with this literally all weekend. I'd move something, add something, and it still didn't look right. So, I'd leave it, and come back to it, in a few hours, or the next day. I'm really proud of my creation, I love it, and I hope you do to.

I used several different products from many different manufactures. So, if you have a question, or you need information on a product, or you want to know how I did something, let me know @ sharon_wheet@yahoo.com

Please post me a comment. Let me know what you think, and also, your process of creating.

February's Virtual Club

Can you believe it? I have this posted prior to Feb. 1st? Ok, its only because my wonderful husband is out of town, so that means that I can craft all day and all night, plus its a weekend! Yahoo!

Ok, back to the virtual club. This is an altered photo frame that roughly measures 8" x 8". The opening for the photo is roughly 3 3/4" x 3 3/4". Because of how Stampin' Up! provides materials, the 2 pieces (4" x 8") of Springtime Vintage DSP will vary, but remember the DSP is double-sided. You will receive the unfinished photo frame, the very vanilla hardware plus 2 very vanilla brads, one foot of crumb cake seam binding, one foot of crochet trim, a 4" x 4" piece of first edition DSP for tearing, one 2 3/8" scallop circle of first edition DSP, the very vanilla vintage flower, and all three fun flowers in each of the three fabrics (you can decide the order and the number of flowers you place on your frame). You will need to provide the following items: adhesive, spray starch (to give the fabric flowers a crinkled look), hot glue gun, sanding block, and staples.

The cost of February's Virtual Club is $8.25. Remember, this includes shipping. You can make your payment two ways: credit cards through PayPal (sharon_wheet@yahoo.com) or you can mail me a check. (please contact me for address.)

There are only a selected number of kits available, so please contact me today, to receive your kit!

My First Challenge As a DT Member

I found-out earlier this month, that my application to join the Our Creative Corner design team was accepted! It was sooo exciting to receive the news, and incredibly difficult not to spoil the beans by letting the news out too early. Well, I'm loving it!

Our first challenge was to make a 3-D item with a Valentine's theme. So, here is my entry. I posted the matching card a few days ago, (posted below). I have a love for vintage/shabby chic, so this was my focus and direction. I did use a variety of products from a variety of different company's, so if you want to know about a certain item used, please ask in comments or email me (bachnucmed@excite.com) and I can get you that information. I placed two Brandied cherry's in this cute little box. The box was a template that I purchased from My Time Made Easy store. What I really loved about this box, was the depth of it. Most box templates have a shallow box, but this box had a wonderfully workable depth.

Please join us in this challenge, and submit your entry here! And check-out what the rest of the design team had submitted, to help get those creative juices flowing! You only have 16 days until V-day! I have learned through the years, that the people who are closest to you, need and love to hear how much they do mean to you. So, don't forget your sweetheart, family, and especially your friends!

Thank you so much for looking, and post a comment, if you have a moment. They really do make my day!

Vintage Valentine

St. Valentine's Day, is my favorite holiday. I love everything about it! I'm a romantic, what can I say? I wanted to make a 'pretty' card to celebrate this event, and this is what I came up with. I used products from everyone, so if you have a questions about a specific product, please post in comments, and I will get that information to you. I wanted a card, that looked and felt 'romantic', vintage, unique. The main image on my card, is actually a label. And yes, its from the most romantic city in the world: Paris, France! I added little touches to give this card some punch. I threaded some beads onto my corsage pin, and tucked it in the flower, and added a half-pearl to the flower center. I adhered some glass glitter on a heart shape to give the card some sparkle. I tied a key onto a button with some linen thread, for a rustic look. I added some crochet trim to a scrap piece of pattern paper, that I used an eyelet border punch on, to help soften the card. All pieces were sponged with a light tan ink, to give everything a distressed look.

Thank you for looking! Let me know what's your favorite holiday.

Shoe Box Swap

Earlier this week, I participated in a Stampin' Up! shoe box swap. There were a few requirements: use something new, and the card can't take more than 10 minutes to make. The hard part was designing a card with the supplies I had on hand. You see, we needed to make 24 whole cards, and the final numbers weren't revealed until 3 days prior.

I used two different stamp sets: Sanded (background stamp) and Nature Walk (occasions mini). I used two different DSP: newsprint, and sweet and sour. The flower was created with the Birds & Bloom die cut. I wanted to add some ribbon, but didn't want to fight with any bows or knots, so I adhered a strip along the front of my card.

Thank you for looking. Please stay tuned! I am participating in another card swap in a few days, so check back to see what I have made. Also, Our Creative Corner has a new challenge coming up, this Friday!

Design Team

Happy Friday to Everyone! I wanted to post a special event that has happened to me. As all of you know, I love to participate in different challenges. And, one of the blogs I submit entries to had a Design Team call. Well, I applied, and I was accepted! So, every week, I will be posted papercraft items on Our Creative Corner blog.

So, I'd like to ask my followers to participate in these challenges when you can.

And have a wonderful weekend!

Filled With Love

Here are the cards we made in my Filled with Love Valentine's Card Class this past Sunday. We used the Filled with Love Stamp Set (from the Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini 2010). Stampin' Up! 's current promotion is the Filled with Love Bundle. In this bundle you can select either wood mount or clear mount stamp set, a package of special DSP, and a container of clear Itty Bitty Buttons! So, I added some solid cardstock, and we created these lovely cards! How fun! They each have their own look and feel, so you will have a card on hand for all your Valentines!

I will be hosting another Valentine's Day card class at the end of the month. We will be making 3 different cards, using various Valentine's Day stamps. So, if you weren't able to attend, or pick up a kit, don't delay and sign up for my next Valentine's Day card class. (All non-attendee kits come with color photo directions, a supply list, and all materials to complete the cards.) The only product you will need to complete these cards, is your favorite adhesive.

Thank you for looking!

Going Home

Well Leadership is over, and we are all heading home. But, not without some extra tools to help us lead, and to be better up-lines! Stampin' Up! has given us some challenges and alot of motivation! If you have ever thought seriously about joining the Stampin' Up! family, and are interested in joining my team, Hoot's Got Stamps?, then I encourage you to contact me for a special opportunity! But, don't delay! We were given a once-in-a-lifetime special on the starter kit, and the offer ends soon. (soon like in 5 days)

Let me share with you, the wonderful opportunities Stampin' Up! has to offer. And the wonderful opportunities I have to offer you, as one of my team members.

I will be traveling most of this morning, and have a sewing class once I touch down, but I am extra excited to talk with you, about becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator!

email: sharon_wheet@yahoo.com

Pillow Prize

Pillow Prize. That's what it is called when a roomy/hostess leaves you a little gift when you share a room. So, here is the little 'gift' I made for my roomys here at Leadership in Nashville, Tenn. Its a covered notepad. I wanted to show case some of the new products from Stampin' Up!, as well as show current products. The body form is from a stamp set 'Chic Boutique' and the sewing machine is from 'Puns From the Past'. I added some of the new designer paper, and new ribbon, and of course - buttons!

Thanks for looking! Its wonderful getting away and learning some new things! Stay tuned, so I can share with you what I have learned!

Leadership Swap

Howdy! I am in Nashville, Tenn. for Stampin' Up!s Leadership conference. I signed up for a card swap with some lovely ladies from SUDSOL. Now, I'm not a member (of SUDSOL) but I do hang out with some of the members. When I orginally signed-up, I thought, oh, 20-30 cards, no big deal. Well, it was a tad more than that. 51! The guidelines were simple; card front, use current/new products, and must be demonstrate-able. So, here is what I finally came up with. I used one background stamp and one stamp set. I did use 3 different punches. I used a little scrap piece of ribbon, so I didn't have to buy 20 feet of any one ribbon. But, I think I did a wonderful job on my little card. Now, I just hope the other swappers think the same thing, too!

Let me know what you think. And, if you want to book a workshop to share your stamping fun with your friends, we can make this card!

OCC Hey Chickadee Inspiration Challenge

This is my entry for this weeks challenge over at the Our Creative Corner blog here. They provided you with a photo for inspiration (a winter scene with a bird sitting on a branch with berries). So, what ever gives you inspiration from the photo, use that to create something beautiful. So, here is what I created. I typically make cards, but I needed a covered notepad, and took advantage of the challenge. I used a little of everything on this covered notepad. Most of the products used to create this project are from Stampin' Up!. [The crochet trim, the large piece of pattern paper, the paper doily, and the white button are from other companies. (For a complete list of supplies, please contact me personally.)]

Thank you for looking. Stay tuned, I will be posting at least 2 more items before Thursday evening. Your comments are always welcome!

Stylish Blog Award

Look what I got! A wonderful lady gave me this award! To accept this award, I need to thank the person who gave me the award, Tammy @ Stamp with Tammy, to pass it along to 8 other folks I find have 'stylish' blogs, and to tell you 8 things about me that you may not know.

So, here are the 8 other blogs I find inspirational! (in no particular order)

1. Betsy - Paper, Scissors and Superheroes

2. Kristina - kwernerdesign blog

3. Melissa - LilyBean's Paperie

4. Amanda - Le jardin de Papier

5. Sarita - Little Princess Cards

6. Sarah - sarahmartina

7. Lisa - lisascreativecorner

8. Maureen - buttonsandbling

Eight things about me that you may not know:

1. I actually worry about wrinkles.

2. I would love to live on an island, in the Pacific Ocean.

3. I hate working/living in cold weather.

4. I have a romantic notion for Paris, France.

5. I drive a Cadilac, that I really do love.

6. I work in a community hospital.

7. I know how to scuba dive.

8. I know how to snowboard.

Featured Stamper

I just got back from Las Vegas! and boy did I have fun! It was really good to get away and recharge. And it was a super boost to my ego to be selected as the 'featured stamper' on the Creative Corner Blog Hey Chickadee! Inspiration Challenge. This is the card that I submitted for the challenge that was posted last week. I'm pretty excited and honored to be chosen. They have a new challenge this week, so if you have time, you should participate!

Leadership Hello

Ok, I think I have it. My last card uses 5 different stamp sets, and I thought the ladies would kill me. (You are suppose to make a card that is duplicate-able and can be mass-produced.) So, here is what I have come up with now. I only use one stamp set (Bliss), and a background stamp (Sanded). I used two punches (decorative label and the Big Flower). However, I also used one of the flowers from the new flower die. That is still a little iffy for me. However, I think that the flower is missing something. You know me. I need to put a button on everything! That's it! One of the clear buttons! The circle one with the scallop edge! And punch a scrap of ?Very Vanilla card stock behind it? Maybe, I'll just use one flower shape; to help keep the cost of reproduction down, too. Ok, so maybe this isnt' the final sample.

Well, I need to get ready for work and PLEASE leave me a comment, to let me know what you think about the different flower idea I have, or any other adjustments you think might work. Now, I like the empty space at the top half of the card. I don't feel the need to change that. Just the flower.

Thanks for your time, and please leave a comment!

Vintage Thank-You

I have made a card for two challenges, again; it seems the most efficient for me. One challenge is a layout challenge Saturday Sketch Challenge #184 -- Welcome to a New Year! The other is a color challenge (cream and blue) with a twist (you have to make a Thank You card and you have to add metal and vellum) A Thank You Recipe Challenge and a Design Team Call.

So, this is what I came up with. I used Crumb Cake cardstock as my base. Matted my Very Vanilla card stock with a piece of Baja Breeze cardstock. I have really started to embrace making my own 'background' stamped piece. I stamped the Sanded background in Sahara Sand ink. Stamped the Flourish (from Bliss) in Baja Breeze ink. Stamped the 'no. 147' and Bird Cage from Nature Walk in Crumb Cake ink. The Thank you is from Because I Care set, stamped in Baja Breeze. I used the Modern Label punch to create the tag. My metal piece is a metal button brad (Vintage Trinket). My vellum piece is a butterfly, with a little pearl on it. I made my tiny tags from The Tiny Tags stamp set. I used linen thread to tie them onto the scallop trim border. I crinkled some Baja Breeze seam binding and tied in into a bow, to hide the knot of linen thread; just to 'clean it up' a bit.

Thank you for looking. I'm considering making this my card, as my swap card, to take to Leadership, in Nashville. Let me know what you think!