My this week is going fast. I find myself with an amazing number of deadlines looming and really do need to spend some serious time in the studio the next few days. One thing that I spent the weekend working on were the cards that I promised the girls from the Cincinnati Stampin’ and Pamperin’ Retreat. I’m sure some of you know the story, and I’ve probably already told it, but bear with me. The day of the Shoebox Swap was on Saturday and I had not planned on staying. I needed to get back home for Mallory’s Senior Prom and did not prepare a swap. As luck would have it, when I checked in at home on Saturday morning, I was given the green light to stay in Cincinnati until the end of the day. I went back with the other girls after lunch but did not plan on participating in the Shoebox Swap. I was informed by our fabulous hostesses, and some other stampers in the room, that I was not allowed to stand around and watch and visit. I had to participate. Feeling BAD that I had not prepared anything, I left a note on the paper at my spot on the table (No. 22) that read: “I’m sorry and I feel really BAD, but I was not supposed to be here after lunch today but plans changed this morning! I did not prepare a swap and did not plan on participating. If you would like to receive a card made by me in lieu of this swap, please put your name and address somewhere on this sheet! Bad Sherry” 27 names and addresses later, your cards are in the mail! Hopefully you have started to receive them and if you haven’t and want to be surprised, don’t read any further!

Now I thought about this before I did the card. I didn’t want to use any SU sets that were retiring, and that left me with not much to work with! So many of my favorites retired – well actually most of my sets retired. I think I have seven to work with and none of them except this one have I used a great deal! (Disclaimer: don’t look if you want to be surprised)

The sheep was stamped in Black Stazon on Whisper White. The face and legs were colored with Blush Blossom and Tulip Puffy Paint was applied to the body. I used my embossing gun and heat set the puffy paint to that it would dry quickly and puff up. (It is so much fun to watch this stuff get puffy!) I thought it would be cute to draw squiggles that looked like barbed wire and hope that I accomplished that. The background layers are both stamped in Real Red on Whisper White. I kept a simple color pallet of black, white and red, carrying it over to the ribbon.

Stamps: Farm Fever, Weathered, Flannel Plaid

Ink: Black Stazon, Real Red, Blush Blossom

Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Basic Black

Accessories: Markers, Black Gel Pen, Tulip White Puffy Paint, SU Gingham Ribbon, Dimensionals