Shadow Box card and a goodbye

Sadly, today will be my last post with Sherrod Studio. I have been a member of the DT since the beginning and have decided to step down as I have other commitments at this time taking me in other directions. My thanks to Kim for taking me on to the team and to all of the members who have been so friendly and a pleasure to get to know.

Today's card is a challenge issued by team member Ceal - to create a shadow box card. I have never made one of these before but it was lots of fun - will definitely make one of these again!

This card features one of the first Sherrod sets - Gracie. She is just so precious, especially holding that sweet teddy.

I paper pieced her with 2 different DPs - one from My Mind's Eye and the other from 3 Bugs in a Rug (I think - I couldn't find the info this paper as it was a scrap). I also colored Gracie and her bear with Copics and the bear was cut out and popped up on foam tape. The buttons were added to the outside frame portion of the shadow box with glue dots.

This card is also being entered in Challenge #11 at Cooking it Up with Katie where the challenge was to create something girlie, using paper piecing and at least 2 DPs. This fits the bill!

If you would like to try a shadow box card and participate with this week's Tuesday Throwdown with Sherrod Studio, you can find directions here. I hope you'll check out what the rest of the DT has created and play along - we would love to see what you create!

Have a creative day!

Distressing

Yeah I could talk about a lot of things I find distressing, but what fun is that? Instead, I'll share with you some fun distressing - that's the theme of this week's Tuesday Throwdown with Sherrod Studio!

I used the Sherrod Studio set named Gracie - love the big flower in the set! Perfect for paper piecing. And I added a few different distressing techniques. The dark Cocoa base was sanded along the edges, the lighter brown DP with the sentiment has a torn edge and the mat that is the base for the flower was inked around the edges. Then I added a couple of eyelets and some twine to finish a simple, sweet card full of distressing qualities!

Would you like to play along with the Throwdown? Create your distressed artwork and link it up over at the Sherrod Studio blog. We'd love to see what you come up with!

I also have another little project to share with you tonight - the first thing I created with my new Cricut Expression! I finally broke down and bought one and I know I have a lot to learn but here's my first attempt, using the cartridge, Tags, Bags and Boxes....

I used Kiwi cardstock and cut the pattern at 4 1/2" and then cut it again at 4" on the DP. I cut the DP apart and used the sections as layers on the base. A punched border along the bottom finishes the piece. It's nothing overly fancy but it was fun giving the machine it's 1st test run!

Have a great day and I will see you again tomorrow!

CAS with Sherrod Studio

Short and sweet post today as I am feeling lousy from a sudden cold...this week's challenge from Sherrod Studio is to create a Clean and Simple card. This is one of the beautiful stamps in the Peace and Comfort set:

The base of the card is kraft cardstock that was inked with Colonial White around the edges. The sentiment was cut using a Labels 1 Nestabilities die and then inked with Chai distressing ink from PTI. The ribbon and button were in my stash.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the team has created today and play along!
And remember, all stamps at Sherrod Studio are 40% off while supplies last!

I will have another Growing in Unity post a little later today. Hope you are well - I'm off to blow my nose once again. See you soon!

Tuesday Throwdown paper piecing!

Sorry I've been absent a bit. Hubby is finally back to work, the critter (turned out to be a squirrel) has been trapped (humanely) and released back into the wild and I am finally getting back to normal around here! I missed the DT challenges last week due to various "things" but I am back to play today with Sherrod Studio's Tuesday Throwdown!

This week we were challenged by DT member Ceal to create a card featuring paper piecing. Here's my card using the set Winter Wonderland:

Isn't she just the cutest? I paper pieced her dress with one side of the My Mind's Eye DP and then her hat, mittens and scarf are from the other side. Then I used the same papers on the card itself and added a simple punched border for a little embellishment. So easy and so fun!

Wanna play along? Try your hand at paper piecing a stamped image and then head over to the Sherrod Studio blog to leave a link to your artwork. We'd love to see what you create! And be sure to check out the rest of the team and see what inspiration they have for you!

** Just a quick announcement - I am going to be assisting my sister in her new business venture - as a consultant with Tastefully Simple! If you haven't tried their products, you definitely should - they are awesome! If you are in need of a Tastefully Simple consultant, please contact me and I will add you to our mailing list. In the Toledo area? Ask about our Blast Off Open House on February 13th! We'd love to see you there!

Have a great day!

It's a Gracie Blog Hop!

This week on Tuesday Throwdown with Sherrod Studio, we are revisiting the Gracie stamp set and having a hop! Our challenge this week from the hostess with the mostest, Ms. Leah, was to create our own patterned paper using this set. So we invite you to hop along with us, check out all of the great artwork the team came up with and then play along by creating your own background/patterned paper.....oh, and the best part? You might just win a fabulous blog candy package just by leaving a comment at the Sherrod Studio blog!!

What a great package of goodies, including the set we are using today - Gracie!

Here's my card:

I used the teddy image from the set and random stamped him using Memento brown ink onto kraft cardstock. I colored just a little of him (his tummy and a few other highlights in brown and his bow in red) and added a little white gel pen highlight to his tummy. I also stamped the sentiment Hugs 'n Kisses (also from this set) in white ink as well as a tiny heart (from a different set) in red ink.

I then cut a band of red cardstock that was punched along the top and bottom edges with a Martha Stewart punch and covered that with a piece of white/cream lace. The whole thing was mounted to a cream card base. And last but not least, I added the metal tags at the bottom with the "X" and the "O".

I think this would be a great Valentine's card for a special child - or anyone for that matter!

Here's the list of the rest of the DT so you can finish hopping:

Ceal
Dawn
Joseline
Kim
Leah
Mary

So get on hoppin'! And don't forget to leave a comment at the Sherrod Studio blog for a chance to win that prize package!! And remember, all stamps are still 40% off at Sherrod Studio so get them while you can at these ridiculously low prices!!

Until tomorrow -

Tuesday Throwdown with Stitching!

Today I have another Tuesday Throwdown challenge from Sherrod Studio to share with you. But first, I have huge news to share with you! Sherrod Studio is currently having a MEGA SALE - 40% off all stamp sets! How amazing is that???  Be sure to check it out soon before the sale is over!

Now on to today's card. DT member Leah challenged the team to add stitching to their card. This was the perfect opportunity to try out my Christmas gift from my hubby - a Janome Sew Mini machine!

I kept the sewing pretty simple on this one - just zig-zagging around the outer edges of the DP. I thought the zig zag was perfect to go along with the spiky design on the paper. I then stamped and colored the martian from the Out of This World set and cut him out with the pinked circle Nestie (again staying with the spiky edges). A little goldish sparkle pen dotted some of the images on the paper as well as parts of the spaceship and then the cute sentiment finished it off perfectly!

Want to join in the fun? Add some stitching - faux or real - on your next card and post it on your blog or other online gallery. Then head over to the Sherrod Studio blog and leave a link so we can check out your artwork!

Until next time - have a creative day!

Back in action with Tuesday Throwdown!

Ahhh, it was nice to get a break from stamping committments but I am ready and raring to go for 2010!

Today it's an all new Sherrod Studio Tuesday Throwdown!! We are changing things up a bit and each month, a different DT member will be issuing the challenges for the month. This month our lovely hostess is Leah who is challenging us this week to create a gatefold card.

I used the set Rock and Roll and created this simple but unique card that would be a great any-occasion card. The DP is something I have had for-eveh and I kept the image a single color so the overall look wouldn't be too busy. The ribbon wraps around the card to hold everything closed. Here's a peek inside:

Ah, see that cool fold? Inside are two more images from the same set. I think this card will be reserved for a nephew's birthday this year.

Want to play along? All you have to do is try your hand at a gatefold card and then upload it to your blog or other online gallery. Then head over to the Sherrod Studio blog and leave a link so we can check out your work. Oh and be sure to check out what the rest of the team created for this challenge. There are links to their blogs over in the column to your right.

I'll be back tomorrow with another post - until then, have a creative day!

Tuesday Throwdown color challenge!

Sherrod Studio's Tuesday Throwdown is a color challenge this week and we hope you'll play along!

Here are the colors for the week:

I decided to work with the new set from Sherrod Studio - Down Home Blessings.

I think this little farmer is so cute!! I did a lot of distressing on this card to give it a rustic look. The background was embossed with a Cuttlebug folder and then swiped with the chamomile distressing inkpad from PTI. The band of green was punched with a MS punch and also ink distressed.

The main image was stamped with brown ink, colored with Copics to match and mounted on chocolate cardstock. There is also a lot of scissor distressing on this card - a distress fest, I'm tellin' ya! Last I added the sentiment which was cut with a Nestie die and added to the card with brown twill ribbon.

I hope you'll check out what the rest of the DT created using these colors and then you'll join in the fun! You can find all of the details at the Sherrod Studio blog. This will be the last Throwdown for this year but we'll be back in January! Hope you'll join us for more great challenges then!

Sherrod Studio release day!

Two adorable sets are being released today over at Sherrod Studio and I have a fun little gifty item to share with you using the Out of this World set:

It's a bookmark of gigantic proportions!!!!  Not really, I just made it a little large here so you can see the details of the image. That's one great thing about the stamps from Sherrod - not only are they made of high quality acrylic, but the designs have great detail and are so fun to color!! And now there is a sale going on so be sure to check out the notice at the top of this blog.

Anyhow, back to the project. I simply made this bookmark using a piece of Outdoor Denim cardstock (CTMH) and a piece of DP, stamped the words on the flip side of the DP ("blast off" sentiment from the set - the rest was stamped with an alphabet set from CTMH) and layered the saying on the front, then stamped my astronaut, colored with Copics and cut with a Nestie Label 6 die, trimmed at the top and bottom to fit the image better. On the back of the bookmark is a strip of White cardstock that is stamped "Books I Read" so a child could list some of the things he/she has read.

Wouldn't this look cute peeking out of a book about space?? Great little gift idea!

So hop on over to Sherrod Studio today and check out the awesome new sets! I am off to get ready for work - have a great day no matter how you spend yours!

Down Home Blessings

I have 2 posts to share with you today so let's get to it and start the day off with another sneak peek from Sherrod Studio.

This little 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 card features just one little image from a fun new set (being released tomorrow) called Down Home Blessings. There are a couple of these adorable chicks, a rooster, a pail and the cutest farmer you ever did see! Plus more - definitely a set you want to check out tomorrow on the Sherrod Studio site.

Anyhow, for this little card, I combined a couple bright papers and Breeze cardstock (CTMH) and stamped my chick in brown ink. I stamped it a second time on the yellow DP, making sure to get his body in the solid yellow area. Then I cut him out and adhered him over the 1st stamped image on the card. The embellishment is some scrapper's floss - I bought a package awhile ago and I use it on everything but I'm not sure they still make it! I love it because it has more body than regular floss but it's not shiny like waxy flax (if you are familiar with that) and it can be colored with a Copic marker easily. But I digress-
I added the floss and tied it all together with a flower button from my stash. Quick, easy and cute!

Be sure to come back tomorrow for new stamp release day from Sherrod Studio!

Out of this World!

Today starts a couple of days of sneak peeks at new stamps being released this Thursday from Sherrod Studio. So we're going to depart from Christmas items for awhile and today we are traveling "Out of this World". That's the name of this great set from Kim -

To make things more fun, today is also Tuesday Throwdown at Sherrod Studio and we have a sketch challenge for you:

Yep, I did use the sketch to make my card above - just flip it to the right and you'll see the direction I took the sketch for this card. I combined a couple of busy DPs but I thought they worked great together! The strips of Outdoor Denim cardstock (CTMH) were embossed with the Cuttlebug. The image was stamped, colored and cut out and then added to the Vintage Cream (PTI) section with foam tape for some fun dimension. A couple of gold star brads finishes the card off.

So how about playing along with our challenge this week? You can get all of the details over at the Sherrod Studio blog and be sure to check out what the rest of the DT has to share with you using this sketch and the Out of this World set!

And be sure to come back tomorrow for another sneak peek and a gift project for MyGrafico. Until then, make it a creative day!

Coloring cards gift set

The Sherrod Studio DT were challenged to create a gift set of cards including not only the cards, but a box of some sort to put them in. I went a little on the unconventional side and created a set of holiday Thank You cards for a child to color and send to show their appreciation for gifts received from grandparents, aunts and uncles and so on.

I used the skater image from the Winter Wonderland set and stamped her in black ink, leaving her uncolored. The rest of the card was simply decorated with a section of DP, a punched border (Martha Stewart) and a tied button in the corner. The desktop box was created from a My Timeless Template called Desktop Organizer (template can be purchased at PaperTrey Ink). It was so simple to put together and only took one sheet of cardstock! The box easily holds 6 cards and 6 envelopes and I added in some markers that match the DP and tied them together with a bow. A great gift that also teaches a little one how to write thank you notes for all their Christmas goodies!

Be sure to check out what the rest of the DT created for this challenge - they are all sooo creative!

I am excited to spend the evening tonight with my family at the Star Wars Concert - it is supposed to be a really awesome event and Jacob is such a Star Wars nut, I'm sure he will be thrilled! Have a great day and I will see you on Wednesday!

Release Day -Sherrod Studio - Altered Notebook

First I have to apologize - I mentioned yesterday that I would have 2 posts - the 2nd one being the weekly sketch challenge for MyGrafico Challenges. Well, I messed up! I scheduled the post to pop up during the day yesterday....except I put in today's date and not yesterday's!!! So there was only one post yesterday but there WILL be 2 today so be sure to check back later for the sketch post.

Today is new stamp set release day at Sherrod Studio - woohoo!!!! I love the 2 new sets that Kim is releasing - Winter Wonderland (previewed yesterday) and Rock and Roll, a set I sneak peeked a couple of days ago and that I used on today's project:

An altered notepad!

I kept this fairly plain as it is going in a Christmas gift to a boy in our family that is really into music. The drum set is so cool and detailed - I just love it! And there are many other images in the set including some great sentiments. But since this is a notebook, I decided to make my own sentiment from a Close To My Heart alphabet set. I thought this would be great to keep music ideas, iPod lists, and so on in for this young man - what do you think? The colorful circle printed paper is from My Mind's Eye (not sure where the green dotted paper is from) and the cardstock and ink is from Close To My Heart. I picked up the small notepad at the drugstore for under $1.00 and just made a new cover to spruce it up.

So what are you waiting for? Head on over to Sherrod Studio and check out the new sets for November!
And have a creative day!

Winter Wonderland sneak peek

Today there will be 2 posts so be sure to visit later for the weekly MyGrafico Challenges sketch!

But for now, I have another sneak peek to bring you from Sherrod Studio.

This card features the super cute Winter Wonderland set:

For this card, I cut a scalloped circle with my Nestabilites dies being sure not to cut one edge entirely so it stayed hinged for my card base. Then I cut a plain circle from the shiny blue paper (from Target) and one from the patterned paper (sorry, I don't know the source). I tore the DP then to create a half circle. I layered all of these parts and then stamped my cutie patootie skating penguins on another smaller circle. I wanted the image to be in blue to match the colors of the card but I didn't want blue penguins so I went over them with a dark gray Copic marker. Then to finish the card, I added silver Stickles to the ice they are skating on and tied on a silver cord to the fold.

Easy, breezy and freezy! Just the way penguins like it!

Be sure to come back later for a second post and tomorrow for the release day from Sherrod Studio. Oh and be sure to check out all of the samples the DT has whipped up for the Winter Wonderland set today. Their work is awesome! Other than blogging, I am planning a full day of housework today (with a little Target shopping thrown in for a break). Whatever you do today, hope it's a good one!

Rockin' Tuesday Throwdown and Sherrod Sneak Peek

Lots of fun lined up for this week as today is not only the weekly Tuesday Throwdown from Sherrod Studio, but it also starts a few days of sneak peeks of new stamp sets being released by Sherrod Studio on Thursday!

Today's challenge is a color challenge and it's a doozy!

Yep, these are the colors we're working with this week and it was such a fun challenge - especially when combined with the new Rock and Roll set!

I lucked out by having a sheet of DP that had a lot of the colors (or pretty close) to our challenge colors. I added a little Cranberry and Goldrush (from Close To My Heart) and I stamped my images in Memento brown ink. Don't you love the guitar? I love all the swirls around it - just awesome! Plus the swirl in the corner and and the smaller music notes and swirls at the corners near the guitar - just love it all! And there's more in the set - a microphone, a drum set, lots of sayings....so many images to play with!

I kept the card pretty simple by letting all the great papers and images do the work. A little inking around the edges of the papers, outlining a little with a brown Spica pen and some gold colored sparkles and I was all done. The layout came from the Wishes book from Close To My Heart.

I hope you'll join in the fun and try our color challenge. When you do, be sure to link your artwork over at the Sherrod Studio blog so we can all check you out!  And be sure to stay tuned all week as I have another sneak peek for you tomorrow and a release day card on Thursday!

Have a great day - I am working on the later side today, having my mom over for dinner and then going to a Tastefully Simple party at my sister's this evening. Until next time - have a creative day!

Warm hugs and gingerbread

It's Tuesday Throwdown with Sherrod Studio and I've got a sketch to share with you this week!

I love sketches that combine a couple of different shapes and elements. I've been in a Christmasy mood so here's the card I created based on the sketch (and this time, I stuck to the sketch a lot closer!)

I used the Fresh Baked set from Sherrod Studio and Basic Grey papers. My gingerbread boy was stamped in Brown Bag ink (Close To My Heart) and trimmed with White Daisy ink. I added some gold colored sparkles to him for buttons and a similar gem on the piece with the sentiment. The sparkly swirl behind him is an acrylic shape that I ran through my Xyron to add adhesive and then it was sprinkled with Prisma Glitter for a snowy, sparkly look.

I hope you'll join us and play along with the sketch this week! Just create your card and upload to your blog or other online gallery (please use the keyword SSTT05). Then hop over to the Sherrod Studio blog and leave us a link to see your creation. I will be back tomorrow with another sketch - this time from MyGrafico - and a sock monkey. Until then - have a creative day!

Tuesday Throwdown - we're gettin' sketchy!

I love these Tuesday Throwdown challenges with Sherrod Studio - always something to get the mojo going!

This week we have a sketch challenge - here's the sketch for you:

I think a lot of us on the team were in the Thanksgiving mood - be sure to check out what the rest of the team created! Here's my card:

Ok so you might notice that I made a little boo-boo on my card. I stamped and colored my cornucopia and then cut it out but forgot to angle it so the finished piece could be added like a diamond shape! And I just wasn't going to re-stamp and re-color so I made a little adjustment and I think it works just fine!

The image is from Sherrod Studio, paper from Sassafrass, ribbon and buttons are from my stash.

We would love if you would play along with us this week! Just create a card based on our sketch and post it to your blog or other online gallery *(use the keyword SSTT04). Then head over to the Sherrod Studio blog and leave a link so we can check out your artwork! You might be chosen next week's featured stamper!

Have a creative day everyone!

Throwdown color challenge!

Today's Tuesday Throwdown is a color challenge! We're working with Barely Banana, Ruby Red, and Creamy Caramel (or if you prefer CTMH colors - Buttercup, Cranberry, and Brown Bag).

If you play along, you may be our featured stamper the following week so how about joining us? Just go to the Sherrod Studio blog to link to your creation!  Here's what I created:

I decided to go for a somewhat nordic look - kinda like a ski sweater, dontcha think? The base is off white that was randomly stamped with a snowflake in Cranberry ink and then my favorite trees from the Christmas Greetings set from Sherrod Studio were also stamped in Cranberry and the trunks were added with Brown Bag. I cut this piece with a Deckle Nestabilities die and mounted it to a kraft piece of cardstock. I also stamped the O Christmas Tree saying (also from the set) in Cranberry onto a natural twill ribbon - added that across the bottom and a couple of buttons and you have a red and white Christmas greeting!

You're asking yourself - where is the Barely Banana?? If you look closely (or click the picture for a larger view) you will see little stars on the top of each tree.

So how about joining us?? Create your challenge card and link it up at the Sherrod Studio blog and we might just feature YOU next week!

Until next time, have a creative day!

Sherrod Tuesday Throwdown - Emboss Resist

It's a new week and a new Tuesday Throwdown from Sherrod Studio! This wee we are challenging you to try your hand at emboss resist. I think there are few ways to do this but basically, you emboss an image in white or clear and then ink around and over the image. Your image will stay white and resist the ink. Just a little swipe with a tissue reveals the image!

I used the Santa hat from the Fresh Baked set. I stamped it randomly on white cardstock with Versamark ink and then sprinkled and embossed with white embossing powder. Then I sponged two different shades of red ink over the piece and even added just a touch of light blue ink. I wiped the images off and they popped right out!

I kept the rest of the card simple, allowing the beautiful paper to add interest. The band of striped paper at the bottom was punched with an EKSuccess border punch. The saying is from the Christmas Greetings set.

Want to try your hand at this technique? Check out what the rest of the DT has created and then give it a try! You can find out all the details of the challenge at the Sherrod Studio blog. You might be chosen featured stamper the following week!

Have a creative day!

Tuesday Throwdown with Sherrod Studio!

We're starting something new at Sherrod Studio! Every Tuesday, there will be a Throwdown, or a challenge, that we are offering you. The DT will be participating and offering some great samples for you and we encourage you to join in the fun!

This week, the Throwdown is a sketch challenge. Here's the sketch:

And here's my take on the sketch:

I used the All Hallow's Eve stamp set - I think the cauldron image is just spooktacular! I stamped it in Memento black ink and then masked the image so I could stamp the Hocus Pocus phrase around it to create a background. I also added a few of the star cluster images to the background. Then I finished coloring the cauldron with Copics and went over the steaming brew with Liquid Glass to give it some shine.

If you would like to play along with our Throwdown, hope over to the Sherrod Studio blog and find out all the details. And be sure to check out what the rest of the team has to show you for this sketch - awesome projects await!