My Second Merry Monday Creation

I am really having fun with this new Merry Monday challenge.   Here's the sketch:

 

And here's my card:

Oops, I would've put a wider piece of ribbon on it, but I ran out.

I used colors similar to a sample from last year's catalog.  After last week's plunge into watercoloring, I decided to do it again.  Seeing some personal improvement, I think.  I'd love to hear your comments about this card : )

I used ink pads and blender pens to color the little girl.  For the trim on her coat, I used the Very Vanilla Watercolor Wonder Crayon and a blender pen.  Then I covered it with the Versamark pen, then used heat & stick powder and iridescent ice embossing powder.  Look how sparkly it is!  I matted my art piece using this method.

On a family matter, Bradley went back to the orthopedic surgeon yesterday to have his shoulder checked.  The doctor said his shoulder is healing just fine.  We're heading into another snow storm tonight, so Bradley will be looking for shoveling business tomorrow morning.

As far as the Stampin' Up! Convention is concerned, one of my customers, Barb, has already agreed to check up on Randy and the kids during my absence.  She said that she'd even bring them a meal. What a sweetie!  Doesn't sound like a bad idea to "assign" one day to SU! customers and friends to help my family while I'm away. I could even offer an incentive.

Stamps: Greeting Card Kids, Serene Snowflakes
Paper: Watercolor, Blush Blossom, Pear Pizzazz, First Edition dsp,
Ink: Stazon Jet Black, Garden Green, Lucky Limeade, Real Red, Peach Parfait, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla watercolor wonder crayon and blender pen
Accessories: Big Shot, Labels Collection Framelits, Versamark Pen, Heat & Stick powder, Iridescent Ice embossing powder, heat tool, Victoria Trim, Twitterpated buttons, linen thread, Sticky Strip, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stamping!

Susan

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New Projects From My Kids, and a Little Rambling

I hate to admit it, but my girls have a love/hate relationship with Stampin' Up!  My dear daughter  Annika who is nine tell me she hates my 'job.'  She says that I spend all of my time doing Stampin' Up! stuff and never pay any attention to her.  Yet, when it comes right down to it, she really does love it!   I do try to do include her in some projects.  But the times she suggests it (like bedtime!) are not always the right time to 'share what I love.'

A few weeks ago we watched Frenchie's video together on how to make the shaving cream background.  We had everything in the house to complete the project.  However, I asked Annika to help with a few chores first.  With some hesitation and some grumbling, she completed the her torturous chores (what a mean mom I am!) and she got to make her backgrounds.

These ones were done with Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, and Cajun Craze.  They're almost too pretty to cover up.  I've added them to my collection of unfinished projects.  Hopefully, I'll finish a card with them soon.  I'm thinking French Foliage!

We experimented with two more sets of colors: Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, and Cherry Cobbler - and Pacific Point, Night of Navy and Not Quite Navy.  (Sadly, I don't have photos to share.)  The kids wanted to keep doing it all night long.  But we had to stop somewhere.  Besides, the dining room smelled like a barber shop.

Dide (pronounced Dee-da, a Dutch name) says she wants to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator when she grows up.  Dide is a first grader this year.  She is still at that age (and has the personality) where she'll do anything to please me.  We watched Dawn's video on how to make a heart punch art flower.  We used some non-SU! and some retired items on it.  Here is what she came up with:

Dide gave this card to her new teacher, Mrs. Rodriguez at orientation night.  Mrs. Rodriguez showed me a flower that Bradley made for her six years ago.  She says she keeps it on her desk.  Glad that some of these treasures stay around.

Here's another feel-good story:  A few weeks ago Bradley and Randy went to a double-header Pirates game.  They didn't get home until 1:30 am. Bradley was so excited to tell me how he caught four foul balls (some of them were thrown by the umpires).  Then he shared how he told a 5/6 year old boy that he'd catch a ball for him.  About fifteen minutes later, Bradley actually caught another ball.  He said that he made the little boy's day by giving him that ball.  He said, "Mom, you should've seen how he was smiling.  It made me feel so good!"

There have been a lot of changes and cuts in our local school district.  The moral of the teachers is way down.  So many pressures are put on them to do so much more with fewer staff.  They kept full-day kindergarten, but cut some of the specials like art and music (not completely).  This move kinda slid by under the radar.  I'm not sure all parents are aware of it (or maybe some don't care like I do).  Then there are all of those assessments the kids have to take - and pressure for them to do better.  Just let kids learn!!!  Please pray for our schools.

Happy Stamping!

Susan

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Greeting Card Witch

I first saw a card very similar to this on Diana Gibbs' blog.  I really loved her card, but I had to change it up a bit since I didn't have the Wicked Fun dsp.  How is it that once I get an idea in my head, I find it so hard NOT to think about it?  Then inspiration hit me one day while blog surfing. I saw the color combo that Dawn Griffith used on a card, Tangerine Tango and Peach Parfait.  Thus, my card came to life!

I cut the background pieces large enough to leave just 1/16th of an inch around the edges.  I kinda like that look.  I stamped the girl using StazOn jet black ink on watercolor paper.  I colored it with several different marker colors and also used my aqua painter on the dress and the pumpkin. I thought about adding a sentiment, but I chose a simpler look.  What do you think?

If you'd like to know how to create this cute card, please join me at the Oil City YWCA on Monday, October 11th at my stamp camp.  Call 676-6528 to register.

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Ready for Class on Monday

Here's one of the cards that I designed for my upcoming stamp camp at the Oil City YWCA on Monday, September 27th.  This card uses the Greeting Card Kids, Curly Cute and Baroque Motifs stamp sets from Stampin' Up!  The colors are Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, and Night of Navy.  I also used the new Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch as well as the paper piercing tool and the mat pack.

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