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