Good Saturday morning (oops, wait it’s afternoon now)! I slept in a little late this morning. I love those Saturdays when you don’t have to set an alarm, wake up when you want to, and just loll around. The only problem is this Saturday I slept until 10:30. Now for those of you who know me, this is completely out of the ordinary for me and quite frankly I was astounded and muttered to myself that half my day was gone already. I suppose I needed the sleep though and that was my body’s way of telling me!

Last night everything around here was quiet. The girls were gone, Sydney was on a road trip with Kate, I was watching a movie and chatting a little on Splitcoast. My mind was running with all the stamping projects I need to get done and the time frame in which I have to do them. When out of the blue – it hit! An idea for Mallory’s thank you cards for Graduation. Being the creative wonder that I am, when it came time to order the Graduation announcements, etc., thank you cards were not something I was willing to pay for. Hey, I could use that money for other stamping stuff – ! Anyhoo, the idea just popped into my head and off I ran to the studio and here’s the result!

Using the bigger flourish from Pollen Dust by fancy pants design (that I picked up from eclectic Paperie) I stamped it in Real Red on Whisper White. Of course, the school colors are red and white. I also stamped Thank You from SU’s Warmest Regards in Real Red and embossed the entire card in a combination of holographic and kaleidoscope EP. (I don’t know about you, but when I get a little low on EP, I will mix it all together for a sometimes interesting EP.) The front image panel was then mounted on Real Red and put on a card base of white. Mallory likes them so all is well with the world!

Stamps: Pollen Dust by fancy pants designs (eclectic Paperie), Warmest Regards by Stampin’ UP!

Ink: Real Red

Paper: Whisper White, Real Red

Accessories: Holograph and Kaleidoscope Embossing Powder

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

I didn’t think I was going to have any stamping to share with you this weekend, but guess what – I do! I had a special RAK request this morning from my dear friend, Kittie Caracciolo (Kittie747 on SCS). She pointed me to this thread, and there is no way on this earth that I can let Kittie down. She is the most fabulous person!

Anyhoo, I wanted to make more of a masculine card than I normally do, and feel that I may have pulled it off. I started with a new Penny Black stamp I bought recently, Cat’s Tales, and colored the image with markers. I misted it twice very lightly and then stamped it twice on Whisper White cardstock. The edges were sponged in Always Artichoke and the image was then mounted on Always Artichoke and Kraft paper. The background is Flannel Plaid (what doesn’t this background look good with) in Always Artichoke on Kraft paper. I wanted a simple sentiment (since this is a card just to say “Hello, I’m thinking of you today”) and found the perfect stamp in an old set of SU stamps, Great Greetings. The edges of the sentiment and the back layer were trimmed, and then the corners were rounded using a 3/4″ and 1″ circle punch. I added the twill in lieu of ribbon and added some brads. Both the image panel and the sentiment are raised on mounting tape.

Stamps: Flannel Plaid, Great Greetings, Cat’s Tales by Penny Black

Ink: Always Artichoke, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip

Paper: Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Kraft

Accessories: Twill tape, Brads, Wedge Sponge, Mounting Tape, Circle Punches

I hope everyone has a great weekend!! I’m off to do some serious stamping now.