My Christmas Dog

My daughter was home visiting the week before Christmas and we were going through the Christmas decorations. My dog Penny was curious, sniffing out everything, and Julie very spontaneously decided to decorate her with some garland. I ran and grabbed the camera thinking Penny would shake it off any minute. It was so funny, she just sat there as if to say "What I have to do for my big sis!" LOL.

Anyone out there know how to change dog's eyes that turn yellow with the glare of the flash????? Red-eye reduction on the camera's edit system doesn't do anything at all.

Sharon
Dec. 30/09



Christmas Cards, late posting pics

These are two cards I made before christmas but didn't get around to posting the pics on my blog with the busy holiday season.

I received some vintage images from a friend on Cropstop.com and fell in love with this little girl. My sister really likes old fashioned images so I made this card especially for her. She was very pleased with it! I used some Stickles to add dimension to the snow and snowflakes around her head. I made this card late at night - must stop doing this 'cuz the lighting is not great at 3:00 am! The pic is mounted a bit off centre the white layer. I just know someone out there will notice this even if I didn't mention it. LOL!


The other card is for a "secret swap", so I'm not going to write too much about it, except to say there is white fun flock on the "fur" parts of her hat, dress, and dog's hat; Stickles for her earrings, bracelet,star ornament, and dog collar; and the image is coloured with Copics.

Sharon
Dec. 30/09

Butterfly Birthday card

This card was made back in late November, but I'm just getting around to posting it. Vellum Butterfly is a Spellbinders die which I covered with Stickles glitter, and two black rhinestone gems for dimension. I embossed the background paper (SU) and cream layer with the Stylized Flowers folder. On the cream layer, I rubbed Interference Green Pearl Ex over the embossing to highlight it; however, once it was done, the colour is a little "off" from the other olive tones. Sometimes a good idea doesn't work out....sigh!

Sharon
Dec.14/09

New Sizzix Bird die

These cards were made with a new bird die from a Sizzix Sizzlets set of three called "Seasons Greetings" #656286. The set also includes the verse seasons's greetings, and a leafy sprig with flowers (can be made to look like christmas or spring flowers). I think I will find this set very versatile!

The first card uses white Bazzill and SU silver paper layers, and a glittery background paper. The bird is cut on silver paper and covered with white Doodlebug sugar coating glitter. For the bird's wing, I first embossed the white paper with the Cuttlebug Floral Fantasy embossing folder. Then,I positioned the die over part of the embossing to look like layered feathers. The scalloped border is a punch from EK Success. The letters for the word PEACE are cut with Cuttlebug alpha dies which I also covered in the sugar coating glitter. The vellum snowflake under the ribbon is a Spellbinders die called "Snowflake Wonder".

For the second card, I used red paper for the bird and covered it in Stickles Red glitter. The background paper is embossed using the Cuttlebug Holly folder. The tag on the bottom is Spellbinders Shapeabilities "Fancy Tags" die on which I embossed the word Peace in Gold Tinsel EP.

Sharon
Dec.14/09



Gold embossed Angel

I made four of these cards last night. That brings my christmas card count to 18! I have five more to go to match my mailing list from last year, so I should have lots of time.

The clear angel stamp is from a set by Inkadinkadoo called "Christmas Silhouettes", which I embossed with Gold Tinsel EP over a music stamp in the background. I also did several random snowflakes.
The verse is a UM from Ebay I've had for several years and it is stamped on a label (Spellbinders Curvy Rectangles). I used the edge of my Brilliance Gold pad on the label and white layer (SU White Shimmer). Gold peel-off stickers in the corners complete the card.

Sharon
Nov. 20/09

Butterfly Kind Thoughts

My SIL Jeff's mom is going in for surgery next week, so I made this card to send to her.

The butterfly clear stamp is from Stampendous which I embossed with sparkly EP on vellum and coloured from behind with markers.Too bad the pic doesn't show the sparkle very well. The verse is from a set called Cameo Ovations by Fiskars. On the PP, I stamped a flourish diagonally across the paper. Spellbinders regular and scalloped ovals; rhinestones for bling.

I also used my new Martha Stewart embossed scallop border punch which I got today at Michael's with my 40% off coupon.




Sharon
Nov. 17/09

Another Reindeer Card

The deer is watercoloured, and the wreath is done with markers, red stickles and liquid pearls.



Sharon
Nov. 15/09

Pink and Black Theme

I had two birthday cards to make and decided on a pink and black theme for both.

The first card for Heather J. uses a stamp set from T.A.C, The Angel Company. I used silver Stickles on the girl's eyeglass chain, bracelet, and shoe buckles for 'bling'; also Crystal Glaze on her glasses, and shoes to make them look like patent leather. The black flower layer is an acetate piece. The pink background is embossed with a folder from Quickutz "Diamonds & Dots".

The other card is for a stamping friend in Germany who loves cats. The cat stamp is by Anita's, and verse by Paper Company Studio.

Sharon
Nov.15/09

Non Traditional Christmas Colours

The layout for this card comes from my friend Marilyn, although mine is tall where her card is short and wide, and the colours are different. Hope you don't mind, Marilyn! (smile)



Sharon
Nov.8/09

PaperTray Ink Digi Paper

Yesterday I was browsing the Paper Tray Ink website and noticed that you can "try before you buy" their patterned paper. Here's the link to cut and paste in your browser, or you can click on the title of my post to go directly:

http://www.papertreyink.com/papersamples_previous_months.html

Just click on any of the sample titles and you will get a PDF file that you can print. The samples come out in 2"x 2" squares which I thought would be perfect for quilt type cards.

Here's a snowman card I made after downloading the "Rustic Snowflake" paper. The stamp is by Imaginesce, and I did 'faux stitching' around each block.



Sharon
Nov.8/09

Pics of Anne Murray at her book signing

These are pics of Anne Murray at her book signing at Chapter's Book Store in Dartmouth, N.S. on Nov.2/09. We waited a little over two hours to get the book signed. Peter was able to get a pic of me when I finally made it to Anne's desk, although Anne spied a personal friend in the line-up and waived. It looks like she is doing the Hitler salute! LOL. The last pic is the one with me in it, although I've got a stupid grin on!

Her book, entitled "All of Me", is fascinating with many good laughs about her life growing up with her family at home in Springhill, Nova Scotia, and at the cottage, along with stories of all the entertainment people she has met over the years, first boyfriends, her former husband Bill Langstroth, her kids, etc. I couldn't put the book down once I started reading it in the line-up to help pass the time waiting to get it signed. I had to be careful not to mess the pages as it will be a gift. (wink!)
Sharon
Nov.4/09



Polar Bear

3 Clover Thursday Challenge #39 (christmas card, no red or green)
New stamp from Imaginisce "Polar Expressions" coloured with water colour pencils and Crystal Glaze on bear's nose; Stickles glitter Star Dust"; Nesties Scalloped Square, Circle. Spellbinders Snowflake Wonder die previously run through the Cuttlebug Snowflake folder to give added dimension. Paper is "Let it Snow" by Kelly Panacci for Sandylion.

Sharon


Reindeer

I bought this stamp set on sale last year after the holidays. This morning when I was looking through my stash I found it! I coloured the reindeer and wreath with twinkling H20's; red stickles on the bow; red pearls on the wreath and round christmas verse mounted with pop dots -stamp by Just Rite stamps; Martha Stewart branch die under the round layer; Spellbinders labels cut on the printed paper to show the reindeer undeneath; Sizzix corner die.



Sharon
Oct. 29/09

Scrap Pink Weekend

What a blast we had at Scrap Pink in Port Hawkesbury. I didn't get there for the reception on Friday night, but arrived around 10:30 on Saturday. The ladies were already heavy into doing their pages and everyone was busy. Marilyn was teaching a couple of classes throughout the day. I find planning a layout the hardest thing to do in scrapping. Looking through the sample scrapbooks on hand, I managed to get one double layout and three single pages cut out; however, I didn't put them together because I didn't take all my embellies and everything necessary to complete them. Finishing the pages will be a project for spare time the next few weeks. Marilyn won a very nice, padded shoulder bag to carry all her papers and things.

Here is a pic of the chocolate fountain served up on Saturday night. It was yummy with marshmallows, pretzels, and lots of sliced fruit to make kabobs to dip.

All in all it was a nice weekend away and a good visit with Marilyn at her home.

Sizzix Sizzlet Ornament Die

This is a card I made using the Sizzix Sizzlet Ornament die. I cut out the die and then positioned it in the Cuttlebug "Winter Jelly" embossing folder and ran it again through the Bug. The embossed house fit the ornament circle perfectly! I sponged white lightly over the whole thing, added some Stickles on the details, and attached with pop dots.

I also used the Cuttlebug snowflake die on paper which had been previously embossed using the snowflakes folder.

The pinecone and verse are embossed with clear EP, and red faux stitching completes the card.

Sharon

Cardinals - Northwood Stamp

This oval cardinal is a new Northwoods stamp I recently ordered through Ally at rkstamps.com. I love these stamps for their details, and they're great for colouring. Click on the title to go to Ally's homepage - scroll down about halfway to see all the Northwoods that she has in stock. Her shipping is cheap to Canada too! For two very large 4"x4" wood mounted stamps, the shipping is $5.40US.

Sharon


Twinkling Leaves -Nature's Glory

Well, last night I had yet another night where I woke up at 2:30am and couldn't get back to sleep. Those pesky hormones! I decided to get up and stamp, instead of looking at the clock or counting sheep.

I cut out leaves using the Cuttlebug leaf die on orange, rust and creamy caramel cardstock. Then I coloured them using Twinkling H20's. They are so pretty in real life! On the mustard layer, I randomly stamped leaves using Tim Holtz distress inks, Tea Dye and Marmalade. I wanted the leaves to be subtle and Timmy's ink fades a bit into the cardstock when dry. Then I sponged all around the outside edges of the layers and did "faux stitching. The "nature's glory" stamp on the Spellbinders tag is an UM from Blockheadstamps that I got on a Thanksgiving theme sheet a few years ago. This was my first time using it and I felt it described the leaves perfectly! It's stamped a little bit wonky on the tag, but I guess that is what happens when you work in the early hours! LOL! The dotted, embossed angle border is a Martha Stewart punch.

Sharon


Changito Coffee Monkey

I just received a new Changito Monkey cling stamp by Stampendous in the mail this week. He's so cute, he makes me laugh! We all have "two cup days", don't we?? LOL

So Thursday night, I stamped some images and this is the card I came up with.
I watercoloured the image, sponged SU Creamy Caramel around the edges, used Crystal Glaze on the coffee cups and brown flocking on Changito's bunny slippers for dimension. Along the edge, the "coffee brands" stamp is a border stamp by Blockheadstamps. The yellow background paper by SU is run through the Cuttlebug Swiss dots folder on which I randomly stamped coffee beans. Spellbinders circles, scalloped circles and tag dies were used, along with a scalloped border punch. The background paper is chocolate brown, however, looks black in the pic. Why can't colours stay true? (Sigh!)

Sharon


Zindorf Halloween

I haven't stamped in over a month. Sigh! I happened to be reading Michelle Zindorf's blog and liked her tutorial for "Birds on a Fence". This is my take...
I used Crystal Glaze on the crows to give them dimension; one crow is cut out and mounted with a pop dot. The sizzix pumpkins are watercoloured and layered with foam dots. The tree is a stamp, and the fence is drawn freehand. A bit of white gel ink highlites the tree branches and fence. On the orange and green papers, I stamped the woodgrain background stamp from SU and distressed the edges with black ink.
Sharon

Birthday card

I got some new stamps from Lori's TAC cattie. Love these girl images, and the verses are so much fun.



Sharon
July 9/09

Cottage

Last weekend, Julie and Jeff came for a visit at the cottage. We bought lots of strawberries at Stirling's Fruit Market for $2.50 a box (good deal!) and spent the afternoon making freezer jam. It was Julie's first time and she was pleased with her results - she didn't know it was so easy!

Here are some pics of the cottage. We painted it two years ago for Julie's wedding and already the paint is flaking from the salt air. Always maintenance to do! We haven't put the canvas on the gazebo yet either because of all the rain. Where you see the little stump in the front of the cottage, that is where the path starts to walk down the hill to the beach.

The sun came out for about an hour on Sunday afternoon, so Julie and Jeff washed their car to take advantage of the rays....few and far between lately!

The rose bushes are in full bloom and the smell is gorgeous!

In case you are wondering what the ivy covered structure is in front of the sunporch, it is the stone chimney from the old farmhouse which stood on the property in the early 1900's. The sandstone blocks are huge. It amazes me how they built it way back when.

Sharon
July 9/09













Julie - Award Night at Pier 21, Halifax

Julie won the Halifax County Dental Society award for the three "P's" - Professionalism, Participation and Positivity. With this award came a cheque of $150.00! She was happy about the money part. LOL! Here are a few pics. The lighting in the room was very dim during the ceremony and I was quite far from the stage. I used my zoom; however, the pics of Julie being presented are a bit blurry.




"You're Sweet" Thinking of you card

This card is for a friend which I mailed recently but forgot to upload it. The cupcakes, roses and verse are by Inkadinkadoo #97628 clear acrylic stamps. I coloured the cupcakes with watercolour pencils and added Stickles for bling. The background paper and striped paper is by Stampin Up. I think the paper on the Nestie is Basic Grey but not sure as it was a scrap.

Eeek! I just noticed I have used that Martha Stewart Punch on my last few cards. I have a new zigzag/dot border MS punch on order. Can't wait to receive it so I can change up my layouts! LOL

Sharon
June 7/09

Sympathy Card

I made this card and got it in the mail last week for Cindy on Inkstainers whose MIL recently passed away. I also entered it on CropStop.com for their weekly challenges "Monochromatic".
The background is floral paper which I sponged with lavender versamagic chalk ink around the edges, and also on the Nesties Oval. The verse on the oval is by Cloud 9 Designs "Simple Thoughts". I think the words are really meaningful!

Sharon
June 7/09

Kickin Up Dirt - Birthday card for SIL Jeff

My SIL Jeff's birthday is coming up on June 11th, so I made this card today to take with me to the city when I visit Julie & Jeff on June 10th. They just bought a new house and Jeff wants to make a vegetable garden. I bought him a new shovel and some other tools for his birthday, so thought the verse "kicking up dirt" was appropriate! LOL! Jeff is interested in wilderness activities - rock climbing, ATV'ing, hiking, kayaking, etc. He says he would love to be on the "Survivor Man" television show.
The stamp set is from CTMH -#D1151 "Off Road". I'm not sure if it's still in their cattie or not.I watercoloured the images and used Crystal Glaze on the ATV headlights and helmet face shield for dimension. Also used my Nesties Rectangle dies, and the Martha Stewart border punch. Copper brads and green metallic evergreen tree embellies.

Sharon
June 7/09

RAK's

Yesterday, was a great mail day from my Inkstainers friends Heather and Lori. Here are their cards:




Thanks so much for your thoughtful words inside the cards. They made my day!
Hugs, Sharon

Card for friend - "Fairy - Flowers Smiling"

I haven't stamped much in the past two months!! Since coming back from vacation I don't know where the time has gone.

I did make a card yesterday morning for a friend just to say hello as I haven't written to her in a long time. Sorry I don't know who makes this fairy stamp. The stamped and embossed fairy was given me to quite some time ago in an image swap. I coloured it with twinkling H20's, and added some Gold Stickles for bling on the fairy's headband,the neckline of her dress and her wings. The verse is by Clear Stamps "Simple Thoughts" series. I also added some beads and more Gold Stickles to the centre of the Prima Flower. The scroll is a Quickutz Die; scalloped oval by Spellbinders.



Sharon
May 25/09

Neglected....

Sorry that I have neglected my blog for almost a whole month. I've been sick, not doing much in the way of creating, and my 12 year old nephew passed away from cancer on April 1st. It was very sad and hard on the family.

We are going on vacation for 11 days to Anna Maria Island, Florida on April 28th. I'm so looking forward to relaxing in the warm sun and swimming in that gorgeous turquoise Gulf ocean.

Hopefully May will be a better month once we return.

Sharon
April 26th

Box of 72 Copics for Blog Candy!!!

Horner's Arty Blog is giving away a box of 72 Copic markers for blog candy on April 10th. There are several rules to follow...go check it out by clicking on the title of this post.

Birthday Card

Friday afternoon, I had a new stamp delivered by the postman that I got along with some other goodies from an on-line vendor. It's called "Jen", by Me&MyBigIdeas, Creative Beginnings. She's such a hippie chick! I have a friend whose birthday is coming up in April. She's a hippie chick herself, young at heart, and loves bright colours.

I coloured with watercolour pencils, sponged around the edge of the Rectangle Nesties before removing the frame, and added a tiny bit of Gold Stickles for her earrings. The patterned paper is cut with the scalloped rectangle Nesties. The ribbon tag is a diecut by Sizzix.

Inside, the verse by Inkadinkadoo reads, "you're only a kid once, but you can be young for a lifetime!"



Sharon
March 21/09

Tim Holtz Inspired Tag

This is a Tim Holtz inspired tag I created for a challenge on Cropstop after checking out Timmie's blog. I saw him using a mask and since I don't own any yet, I decided a paper doily would do. I dabbed Blue Brilliance Ink and Denim Distress Ink on the acrylic mat, spritzed with water, and patted the tag in the inks- let dry. Then, I sponged Distress Tea Dye along the edge of the doily, and Brilliance Olive randomly over the surface.

When I took up the doily, I thought it looked like land next to the ocean, so I got the idea do a"sailing" theme- imagine that the sailboat is heading out to sea from anchor in a cove. I again masked with the doily and stamped an antique map along the right side; removed the doily, and stamped a sailboat, compass, antique map, and verse. It was also a requirement to use your Cuttlebug, so I embossed the C/S with the Swiss Dots folder before cutting out the Bosskut letters (though they are so tiny, it's hard to see the dots).

A brass ship's wheel and fibres complete the tag. I also cut out and glued a piece of teal cardstock to the back to finish it off.



Sharon
March 21/09

New Sizzix border - Frills

I got a new 12" Sizzix border called Frills the other day, so decided to play with it. It's the blue swirly pattern at the bottom of the card. There are also two other patterns on the die - a zigzag, and tulip cutout. The stamp is by Emmerson, American Arts. I coloured the ladies with watercolour pencils, added some Stickles for bling, and Crystal Glaze on the coffee cups.



Sharon
March 16/09

Birthday Butterfly

I used my new Stampendous clear paisley butterfly stamp to make this card.Also in the set are two paisley easter eggs, and paisley heart. It is embossed in gold EP and coloured with Twinking H20's. Two sided paper is by K&Company.



Sharon
March 9/09