Wednesday, June 13, 2017

The gals usually in our Wednesday blog hop have decided to take a break for the summer.  We all have things that are happening in our lives, like weddings, vacations, etc,  So there is no hop today, but we hope to start up again in September.  As far as my blog, I hope to continue at least fairly often to blog some of the work I am doing, and I hope you will continue to come and visit me to see what I am up to.

Today I am putting something a little different on my blog.  Recently I bought a few things from Art Impressions.  I love the watercolor look.  Today's card is pretty much all AI, but I have been dabbling a little in doing the same type artwork with some of Stampin'Up! stamps, especially the smaller stamps, and also the inks.

I said I would try to keep you updated over the summer on what I am up to.  So come back again.

Crafty Hugs,
Sandy

Blog Hop Wednesday -- May 31, 2017

Hi All:

Welcome to another blog hop.  You should have arrived from Liz's blogsite and then continue to Robbie's blogsite.  I will be on a short road trip, so I hope you enjoy the hop and I will hop as soon as I get home.  I'm not taking a computer for 3 days.  Yikes!  Can I manage without a computer?  I don't have a smart phone either, so no texts.  Oh, but I have a Kindle, so I can receive emails.  I just cannot do anything with blogs and not too much typing.

Well, you are here to see the challenge and to continue to the next.  Without any further ado.......we were challenged to do a masculine card.  Oh boy, sometimes those are pretty hard.  However, we have so many nice, versatile, stamps that I had many to choose from.

I chose the cute fish in Seaside Shore.  I am glad it carried over.  My son and grandson are avid fish collectors.  They each have their own fish tank, as well as a huge salt water tank.  They love to go look at fish and occasionally give in a buy a few more.  So this set is great for them.

I hope you have a great day!
Sandy

Blog Hop Wednesday -- May 24, 2017

Hi Everyone:  

Welcome back to another blog hop today,   We were challenged to make something that reflects what summer means to us.  That was just a little tough for me.  I don't have the stamps with popsicles, ice cream, camping, etc.  However, how about sand and water.  So I pulled out the same stamp sets I used last week, High Tide, and the soon to retire Wetlands.  I could make a beach scene with those, right?  Oh, and how about a nice chair to sit in.  I may need to go find a book stamp and I will be all set.  Summer to me means either a beach or a road trip.  I already live in the mountains, so a mountain retreat is year round for me.  I believe I like mountains better than the hot beach.

Here is the card I made.  I'm not sure how I will use it.  Perhaps a retirement card?  Or maybe enjoy your day?

I think you came to me from Liz's blogsite.  I can't remember what she said she was working on, but I bet it has something to do with sunshine or the beach.  She loves to be outdoors.  When you are ready, head over to Robbie's site and take a look at what she has been working on.  She usually has great ideas.

Have a great and happy day.  Enjoy the beginnings of summer.
Sandy

Blog Hop Wednesday -- May 17, 2017

Hi Friends:    We are back with another blog hop Wednesday.  You should have arrived by way of Liz's blogsite.  Continue to Robbie's blogsite when you leave here.

We were challenged today to making a shape card.  Any shape other than the usual rectangle.  I chose to make a kind of circle.  Since Stampin'Up! no longer has any of the large circle dies like in the past, I had to improvise.  I cut a 4 x 8 piece of cardstock, folded in half.  Then I cut a large circle in the front of the card using the largest size of the circle dies, then rounded the corners with the same circle die.    Not quite a perfect circle card, but close enough to make an odd shape.  With the dark background behind my card this looks almost like looking through a porthole.

We have been having some serious slow internet connections the past 2 days with the computers at our house.  I had a very hard time getting this site to load and to get my card to download.  I am going to hurry and finish up here before it locks up again.

Have a great day,
Sandy

Blog Hop Wednesday -- May 10, 2017

Happy Wednesday.  It's blog hop time.  You should have arrived from Liz's blogsite.  This week we are challenged to use a favorite embossing folder that is being retired, and that we will miss a lot.  In addition to this challenge, my card is being used for another challenge, so I added some requirements for that challenge.  Those requirements are 4 things; an embossing folder, a punch, ribbon and bling.

On my card I used several retiring product.  The large butterfly punch and stamp will be gone, as well as the Lucky Stars embossing folder.  I used a brand new punch, Pretty Label, which will be in our new 2017-2018 catalog which will go "live" June 1st. The bling is all over the butterflies.  I used rhinestones and also Dazzling Diamonds on each of the butterflies.

I hope you are enjoying our hop, and now you should continue to Robbie's blogsite.

Have a great day,
Sandy

Hi Friends:   It is blog hop Wednesday.  You should have come from Liz's blogsite, and then continue to Robbie's blogsite.   Our challenge for today is another one of those that cause the question, huh?  What do I do now?  We were to create a Mother's Day card and not use flowers.  To me Mother's Day is all about flowers, giving, receiving, and just seeing pretty flowers everywhere.  Well, not too hard right?  The sample inspiration piece used butterflies.  That works.

 But, I decided to use a little kitty and then wish a Happy Mother's Day.  I no longer have a Mother in my life.  I miss mine terribly, but she was with me for many years, and for that I am thankful.  So, I created a Mother's Day card for my stepsister.  She loves kitties.  Here is my creation.

I hope that if you are a mother, have a mother still in your life, or even mothers around you, that you will celebrate and have a happy day.  If you are a mom, I hope you get many cards, with or without flowers, and maybe a few real flowers too.  Happy Mother's Day to you.

Hugs,
Sandy

Wednesday Blog Hop -- April 26, 2017

Hi Stampers:   Welcome to our blog hop this week.  We were again challenged to use something we favor that is being retired.  One of my very favorite sets is Balloon Adventures stamps and Thinlits from the Occasions catalog.  Oh my, I was so sure that set would carry over to the new catalog.  I still think Stampin'Up! made a mistake in choosing that set to retire.  In fact, they even used the bow die on a sample that appears in the new 2017-18 catalog.  I told them, and also told them therefore I expect them to tell us they will carry over this set.  That is how much I like it.  However, I won't hold my breath that they carry it over.  I guess I better hurry and use it A LOT!

Here is the challenge picture, and then my challenge card:

On this particular card I used only the balloon thinlits, but I have used the pop-up thinlit both as a pop-up and as a cut piece on the front of the card.  I love the balloons, the sentiments, the banners, the dies, all of it!  Ugh!  So sad.

I also used this card for another challenge.  We were given a bunch of pieces in an envelope and asked to make something pretty.  The pieces were the dsp, the Washi, the ribbon and the little accessory.  I have to admit, when I saw those little snips I felt they were actually someone's trash.  I probably would have thrown that envelope away if I hadn't been challenged to make something.  Well, I looked at it several times and decided it was part of my favorite set, so why not add some cute balloons.  My card was born that way.  I really like this card, and am happy I was able to make something with all those little snips and snaps.   (snaps?  dribs and drabs?  oh well.)

You should have come to my blog by way of Liz's blog.  I know some of her favorites that are retiring.  I wonder which one(s) she used.  When you finish here, head over to Robbie's blogsite to see what she worked on.

See you soon
Sandy

Blog Hop Wednesday -- April 19, 2017

Welcome to our Wednesday blog hop.  Today we have been challenged to use something from the current catalog that is going to be retired and that we will miss most. So you have come to me from Liz's blogsite.   Today was a fun craft day with my friend Liz, who doesn't live close enough, but not so far that she can't get in her car and drive out to my mountain.  She is on spring break, and we just had to take at least one day to play with our stamps.  It is always a joy to have her come out for a visit.  Hugs to you Liz.

There are a lot of really great stamps, dies, and accessories, that are retiring.  I am going to miss a lot of them, but one that I will miss a whole lot is Wetlands.  I love the weeds and use them on lots of cards as an accent.  I love the little sandpipers because they are cute.  And I love the set because it is the easiest one to make a man card from.  The paper I used here is Serene Scenery, which is another thing I will miss.  I like the way that paper can be used as accent, or can be used as a scene to play as part of the design of the whole card.

Here is my card:


 

If you are a demo, then you know there are many beautiful stamps, dies, and accessories that will be in the new catalog for next year that we may love as well as the ones we are losing.  If you are not a demo, then you will have your catalog soon, and you will know what I am talking about.  Every year we say goodbye, and then we say a big hello to all the new stuff.

Continue to hop on your way to Robbie's blogsite to see what her her favorites.  I will see you next week with another favorite or two before the retirement takes place.  Be sure to order your favorites before they are gone. Have a great week.

Crafty Hugs,
Sandy

Hello Friends.  We are back with Blog Hop Wednesday.  You should have come from Liz's blogsite.  I haven't looked yet, and I wonder what she did.  I have not spoken with her, so I don't even know which bundle she used.

I used the Dragonfly bundle.  I think that is my very favorite bundle and I have used it a lot.  I am so happy it is not one of the retiring sets.  I usually don't buy too many bundles from the mini catalogs, but the Occasions catalog had so many good ones.  Ones that I was very sure were going to carry over.  The dragonfly stamp set is the only one of those I bought that is carrying over.  I am really bummed about the fact Stampin'Up! is retiring the majority of the Occasions bundles.  There are a lot of really nice ones!

So here is the card I made.  It is a fancy fold.  I can't remember what it is called.  Anyone know?  I want to say Z fold, but I don't think the Z fold has a cut out and stands.

You can see the cut out and stand portion a lot better in the picture below:

This past weekend I went to the Stampin'Up! local OnStage mini convention.  We all had a great time.  Any time you put together ladies whose main interest is paper crafting, a good time is had by all.  Stampin'Up! puts on a really good convention.  I came away with the new catalog.  We were the first to get the preview.  We also were the first to have the opportunity to pre-order some of the new stamps and other product.  So hard to choose what to get now and what to get later.  I did not order it all, but I did order all the new in-color items, so I will have the new inks and papers this Thursday.   There are some fun new stamps, and some fun new, and new to Stampin'Up! product.  Just wait until you get your hands on one of the catalogs.  If you are a customer of mine, you will be getting one.  If you are not a customer, and you don't already have a demo, contact me.   I'd love to be your demo.  The email address is over on the right toward the top.

Continue now to Robbie's blogsite.  Let's see what she has.

See you soon,
Sandy

Blog Hop Wednesday -- April 5, 2017

Hi Hoppers:   It's another week and another Wednesday blog hop.  The Sale-a-bration period has just finished and product has been retired.  Soon the Annual Catalog will retire and we will have a new one.   For the next little while we are focusing on things retiring.  To start, we have been challenged to use the retiring in-colors.

Here are the colors:

I thought about what I would like to do to represent the colors.  It would be easy, and very pretty, to use the colors in some type of floral card.  However, I decided to challenge myself a little more and decided not to use any flowers.  The next thing that came to mind was the cardstock or ribbons.  So I used both.  I used Tip Top Taupe cardstock for the base of the card (hmmmm....looks a little gray), and the next layer is Mint Macaron embossed.  The remainder of the colors are used in the ribbons.


I like the lacy ribbon and will be sorry to see it go. And I still have a lot, so I better get busy and use it up.

You probably arrived here by first hopping to Liz's blogsite.  When you finish you should hop to Robbie's blogsite.  Hope you are enjoying your hop.  See you soon.

Happy Crafting,
Sandy

Blog Hop Wednesday -- March 29, 3017

Hi All.  Welcome to blog hop Wednesday.  We are baaaaack!  You should have arrived from Liz's blogsite,   This week we have been challenged to use something from the Sale-a-bration brochure that we would like to see carried over to the next annual catalog.  I like several items in that mini, but the 2 stamps I went after first were Avant Garden and So Very Much.  Although I really like both sets, I doubt either one will carry over.  We usually get a new set of several styles of thank you, and we have a lot of flowers already.

So here is my challenge card.

Now you should continue to Robbie's blogsite to see what was her favorite.  See you soon.

Crafty hugs,
Sandy

Wednesday Blog Hop -- March 22, 2017

Another week has flown by!  Hard to believe I just did this blog, but it was a week ago.  I can't imagine how other gals do daily blogs.  You should have arrived here from Liz's blogsite.  This week we are challenged to CASE the person behind us in the hop.  I had some difficulty with understanding.  When I think of who is behind me I think Liz because when hopping the hopper leaves Liz behind and continues to me, then leaves me behind to go to Robbie.  But you could look at it as a list and it changes.  Oh well, enough said.  I decided to CASE Liz's card from a couple weeks ago.  It is very simple and uses two SAB stamp sets that will be retiring next week.  I love Avant Garden and wanted to use it a couple more times before it goes away.   She also used Delicate Details, which I have but had not used.  I am sad that I earned some really nice stamps in SAB and didn't use them often.


Liz's CASE'd card:

Liz used beautiful purples.  I chose to change the colors but keep the style.  I used Daffodil Delight and Crushed Curry.


My CASE

Here is the inside and envelope.

Continue now to Robbie's blog to see her CASE.

Happy Crafting,
Sandy

Blog Hop Wednesday -- March 15, 2017

Hi Crafty Friends:   It is blog hop Wednesday.  I think we have a full house today.  Joni is back from vacation -- yay -- good for us, but I don't think she is too happy.  She left sunny Hawaii to come back to a blizzard.  I think the rest of us are here too -- yay.   You should have come from Liz's blogsite and when you are finished here continue to Robbie's blogsite.

Today we are challenged to use scraps.  I think that means things we have on our crafting desk that don't yet have a purpose.  I don't have too many scraps, but I did find a few.






Here is my card using some scraps and some new.

The dsp is retired paper that is just sitting here in my stash so I decided to use a little of it.  The Stylish Stem Framelit is one of a couple that were on my desk.  I was trying to cut out squares of paper to put dsp or cardstock behind, as well as I was cutting the entire frame to make a stand alone flower.  I had some leftover from my experiments.  So I decided today with the black & white dsp I would use the left over black die cut.  The frame around the Best Wishes sentiment was a left over too, as well as the bee.  I chose a copper bee last week rather than the gold glimmer bee, so here it is in use.  Great, now I used some of the stuff on my desk that might have gotten lost or thrown away.

Hope you like my "leftovers" card.

Crafty Hugs,
Sandy

Wednesday Blog Hop -- March 8, 2017

Happy Wednesday.  Welcome back to our blog hop.  You should have arrived from Liz's blogsite.  We were challenged this week to "Find a card on Pinterest and C.A.S.E. it."

So I searched and found exactly what I wanted to do.  By the time I gathered my paper, ink and dies, and couldn't find the stamp set.  Oops!   The set I was so anxious to use is in my order that arrives TOMORROW.  Oh well.  So the search went on and I came up with the card below.  This card was done by Julia Carmichael.    It is clean and simple and I love it.

So I CASE'd it and came up with the below card.  She used the Wetlands stamps.  However, I changed the sentiment because she used a stamp from the 2012 catalog.  I wanted to use something current so used the sentiment from Wetlands.  I like this clean and simple card.  Her photography is fantastic.  I tried taking my picture on a table under a day lamp, then I tried on a white background at a window in the sunlight, then I tried outside.  In the end, this is the best I could do.  I refuse to believe it is my camera.  I am NOT a photographer, so it has to be my technique.  Any ideas what I am doing wrong?  All my pictures come out rather dull.

You should continue hopping now to Robbie's blogsite.

Hope to see you next week, or sooner.

Sandy

Wednesday Blog Hop -- March 1, 2017

Happy March.  Unbelievable that we are going into another month.  And unbelievable that it was 70 degrees again today, 80 last Friday, and it is still February.  But I love it.

We have some really great challenges for you this month.  We start out today being challenged to "Use a challenge to create your project."   Before you arrived here you should have come from Liz's blogsite.

I went out into blogworld and chose Freshly Made Sketches for the sketch challenge I wanted to work from.  It is a rather simple sketch, and I had an idea right away.  The link to this challenge site is   Here    

So here is the card I made for our challenge.  The technique I used for the dragonfly is sticky glitter.  I have absolutely no idea what the technique is really called, so I am calling it "sticky glitter."  ha ha   I cut the basic dragonfly die in Tip Top Taupe cardstock.  Then I affixed packing tape to the back of the cardstock, which leaves a big, sticky, opening in the paper.  Next, cut out the decorative dragonfly in Early Espresso cardstock.  Affix the Early Espresso dragonfly into the opening.  This will leave the various openings sticky.  Now the fun part.  Dump gold glitter on top and rub some into all the openings.  Shake off the excess, including all that is now on your arms, neck and face (seriously).   Love it.  This is a very sparkly dragonfly.  Then I used Very Vanilla to mat the top piece.  Beneath that is two pieces of Sale-a-bration metallic ribbon, a piece of Falling In Love dsp and all mounted on a base of Marina Mist cardstock.  The sentiment is from Wetlands stamp set.

I had a lot of fun with this challenge.  Hmmmmm, just noticed as I was typing below this photo, there is even more glitter in places on the card and on the table, despite the use of my Embossing Buddy.  I hope my husband hasn't picked up some on his face too.  He just might ban glittering within 5 miles of our house.

Ok, let's go take a look at what Robbie has done with the challenge.  I'm anxious to see the whole hop to see what everyone has done.  So next up is Robbie's blogsite.

Have a happy day.
Sandy

Wednesday Blog Hop -- February 22, 2017

Welcome back to our Wednesday blog hop.  Continuing with our changing themes, this week we are to use a technique, our favorite technique.  You should have arrived here from Liz's blogsite and then continue to Robbie's blogsite when you leave here.

I think my favorite technique is watercoloring.  Add a little sponging, and I am happy, because I think they go together.  Remember the Stampin'Up! watercolor crayons from a few years ago?  I loved, loved those crayons.  I used to take them on trips, color in front of the TV, take them babysitting, they were my most carried craft supply.  Although I don't do quite as much watercoloring now, I still love it.

My card today uses a little watercoloring with our new watercolor pencils and also some sponging in the sky and on the ground.  I wanted the card to be a little whimsical, so I kept the colors very soft.  I love the Beautiful You stamps from our Occasions Catalog.  When I first looked at that set my thought was pretty.  Later I looked closer and not only pretty but appropriate.  I can use just about any of the images and make it appropriate for birthday, friendship, sick, even the lady with the umbrella could be used for sympathy with a nice sentiment.  Or, the sentiment "Wishing You Brighter Days To Come" might be used to send to a friend telling him/her you are hoping things will get better.  I love the set that I originally thought might be one I could do without.

Once I had the set on my craft table I decided to try a couple other cards.  Those were brighter.  I've seen some really nice cards made with this set.  The weeds come from Wetlands, another favorite.

Now you should continue to Robbie's site.  I have a stack of cards starting to develop.  For a while I had a mojo blockage, but lately I've had more ideas than time.  However, blogging is not the easiest thing for me to do.  I make something and then procrastinate putting it on my blog.  I will try harder.  Perhaps I will get a few of the stack on this blog next week?  We'll see.

Have a wonderful week,
Sandy

Wednesday Blog Hop -- February 15, 2017

Hi All.  I am going to be quick today because I am currently bumming off  McDonald's wifi system.  Our internet has been out since Friday and may be out until this Thursday.  Our provider seems to think, after all the things we tried, that their equipment up on the pole (??) is malfunctioning.  They can't come until THURSDAY???  Yikes, we are dying here.  No internet, no cell reception at our mountain (we never have cell), and last night our phones went out because of high winds.  On my.

Anyway, here is my card for this week.  Our challenge is to use something from the SAB catty.  I used Avant Garden.  Love that set.  It is especially nice for thank yous, sympathy cards, and saying something nice to someone.  I love these colors too (Soft Sky, Marina Mist, Sahara Sand).

And here is the inside and the envelope.

You should have arrived from Lizzy's blogsite and then continue to Robbie's blogsite.

See you next week, when I am sure (I certeinly HOPE) I am back up and running and have joined the world of the living again.

Crafty Hugs,
Sandy

More Balloons

I told  you yesterday I would add another card using the Balloon Adventures Bundle.  Here is one using the popup portion of the thinlits for the cover.  You cut on a 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 piece of paper (1/4 of a piece of cardstock) then trim it down to fit on your cover.  You don't make a pop  up out of it, but you could do a shaker card, which I am working on now.  I then punched Delightful Dijon balloons using the balloon punch (not the thinlit), painted with Wink of Stella Clear, then diecut the 2 styles of balloons using the thinlits in the bundle.   The rest, I believe, is self explanatory.  If you have any questions, please ask.

Here is the inside, using the stamps.

I will be back again soon.  Have a nice day.

Crafty Hugs,
Sandy

Wednesday Blog Hop -- February 8, 2017

Hi all and welcome to another blog hop Wednesday.  We are challenged this week to use something from the Occasions catalog.  I chose the Balloon Adventures Bundle.  I knew I would love that set when I bought it, but once I started making things I couldn't stop.  I've made about 6 different cards and I just got the set about a week ago.  This set will be great for birthdays (duh) but also for just about any kind of celebration.  I bet I will use at least the stamps for my niece's graduation in May.  I was trying to figure how to use it for Valentines Day, but decided for that day to stick with the Love Notes set, which is another wonderful set.

So you should have arrived from Liz's blogsite.  I wonder what she worked on this week.  There are so many nice things to choose from in our Occasions catty.

Here is the outside of my card.  My inspiration for this design came from someone's blog, but I can't find the printed picture, which I often do when I see something I like.  I must have just done my sketch and did not keep a picture.  The design is hers, but I changed it up a little with colors, and the let's celebrate on the front, etc.  I like those packages on the front.

And here is the wonderful thinlit I used for the inside.  Check back tomorrow to see how I used this popup die for the front.  It is sooooo versatile and so easy to use.

Now you should head over to Robbie's blogsite.  She starts the hop off, but if you started with me, then continue to her and around the hop.

See you soon,
Sandy

Blog Hop Wednesday -- February 1, 2017

Welcome back.  Our challenge this week is to create a project.  Something other than a card.  Our inspiration piece included the below items for examples.

You should have arrived from Liz's blogsite.  She and I were working together last Saturday, so we have seen each other's creations.  You will like hers.  Here is what I have created.

This is a box of sorts that can be used for different purposes.  I used the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits.  The Mini Treat Bag is usually a very thin bag which can be used to insert perhaps a candy bar, or a card. Normally you would cut one large piece and one small piece and put it together as instructed.  That will create a flat envelope style holder.  However, if you use the large piece and cut it twice you can put it together to make the opening up to about an inch and a half and have room for larger inserts.   Mine here is about an inch thick.  My picture shows a candy bar, but I plan to put not only the candy bar in the box, but also a Valentine card, or maybe a couple candy bars.  I haven't made a final decision yet.  Other times when I have made this box I've inserted 6 cards and I gave the package as a gift.  Or when I do a school fund raiser I have included it as a door prize with a few Stampin'Up! items inserted.  I love this die and use it often.  The paper I used is Pop of Pink Specialty paper and I also used gold glimmer paper for the heart background piece.  I hope you like my non-card creation.

Now you should continue to Robbie's blogsite,  I can't wait to see what she has done.  Let's go.

Crafty Hugs,
Sandy

Blog Hop Wednesday -- January 25, 2017

Hi All.   We have a challenge today to make a Valentine.  However, we are not to use any hearts.  Reds and pinks are ok, but no hearts.  So, although I used the Sealed With Love stamps, Love Notes Framelits, and Sending Love dsp,  I did not use anything with a heart.   I believe it still is very much a Valentine.  Oh, inside it says "Happy Valentines Day."

You should have come to me this time from Joni's blogsite.  Nice job, Joni.  And when you leave here you should continue on to Robbie.  I wonder what Robbie did, and so I will have to hop on over to take a look.  I bet it is totally great.

So let's go take a look at Robbie's creation.  Next week I think we may have another Valentine of some sort.  Must be love in the air.  Hope to see you then.

Crafty Hugs,
Sandy

Wednesday Blog Hop -- January 18, 2017

Well, we have an interesting challenge this week.  We are getting close to Valentine's Day so we were challenged to do a Valentine.  However, we could not use any reds or pinks.  Hmmmmm.

So, here is what I did.  I used golds and whites.  I die cut Bloomin' Hearts Thinlits on Gold Glimmer paper and also a few of the small flowers from the same thinlit set in white.  The sentiment is from Sealed With Love in the Occasions catalog.

The inside sentiment is also from Sealed With Love.  No reds or pinks, but I think the message is there.  Happy Valentine's Day.

You should have arrived from Liz's blogsite.  I wonder what colors she used to get around reds and pinks.  When you leave here you continue on to Robbie's blogsite.  Want to guess what colors she used?  Let's go look.

See you next week (or sooner) when we have another interesting twist on Valentine's Day.

Happy Crafting,
Sandy

Blog Hop Wednesday -- January 11, 2017

This week we were again challenged to do something in blues with snow or snow related.
We were also to use an embossing folder with some type of snow theme.  So what I did was use the Woodland EF and put a lot of mica and dazzling diamonds on the branches to make it look like snow.   The photo doesn't pick up the snow all that well, but in person there is a lot. I also used a brayer to put ink on one side of the embossing folder to make a blue sky.  I finished off our Christmas and snow season by using just the word Peace as my sentiment.   This was a very simple card.

You probably came to me from Liz's blogsite and will continue to Robbie's blogsite.  Hope you enjoy our hop this week.  I think we are winding down from the winter and holidays and will start getting into Valentines and spring pretty soon.  See you next week, or one of these days I will get time to put creations more often than on Wednesdays.

Crafty Hugs,
Sandy

Wednesday Blog Hop -- January 4, 2017

Happy New Year everyone!!   Do you believe it is already 2017?  The years go too fast.

Well, I guess I did not make it back here last week.  I was some kind of sick.  My hubby and I both caught colds while we were in Germany.  We continued on, and on.  We just bundled up with layers and tried to ignore the chill, mist, dampness, and winter weather.  I guess that is why we both were still pretty sick when we got back home.  He recovered but I continued to get worse and worse until I finally went to the emergency clinic the Thursday before Christmas.  Christmas and New Years were somewhat a blur, but I am doing much better now.  The doc gave me a fistful of meds for bronchitis, major sinus infection, infection in larynx and  just plain ick!  But I am Baaaaccckkk!!!

We are challenged this week to use blues, snow theme and some sparkle.  I think we also were to try to use an embossing folder but not the falling snow folder.  Here is our inspiration piece.

And here is what I did.  I used the new watercolor pencils that you will find in our brand new Occasions catalog that starts January 4th.  That is tomorrow, or today if you are reading this on Wednesday.  I have been really excited to get started with some of my new goodies, but I have been too sick to even trudge up to my craft room until yesterday.  But this weekend I plan to play with lots of those new "toys."

I also used white embossing powder on snow dots and stars in the sky.  The stamp came from Holly Jolly Greetings in the Annual Catalog.  I also used Lovely as a Tree, which I hope won't be retired this year.  Every year I pray SU does not let that one go.  It is my favorite.   So I have blues, check;  snow, check; sparkle, check; embossing folder, check.  That should do it.

You may have come to me from Liz's blogsite and should continue on to Robbie's blogsite.  Enjoy our winter blog hop this week.  See you next week.  Fingers crossed all that sick is GONE and won't come back!!

Crafty Hugs,
Sandy