I want to take this time to wish everyone a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for this holiday season!
Shirley's 2 Girls is taking this weeks Twisted Thursday off to spend with family and friends. So the design team will be posting a holiday card from our Christmas in July release for Shirley's 2 Girls.
Here's mine! Truthfully, I think this is one of my most favorite S2G cards as I love the fun and non-traditional colors, and those darling little mice just make me smile from ear to ear. I've listed the products I used for this card below, if you're interested.
If you still can't get through the day without some additional doses of S2G, then head on over to the other DT Blogs for some more Holiday Cheer!! Christmas is just around the corner!!
To ALL S2G FANS...There's some BIG changes going on!
These changes will be GREAT news for your pocketbook, your storage woes, & you driving the postman crazy with 'where are my stamps?'
We wanted you to know that on January 1, 2010...
'Shirleys2Girls Clear Stamps'...
is going "SIMPLY DIGITAL"!
Kristine and Deidre, the owners & sisters of S2G, not only work together and live together, but they are also their 89 year old father's caretaker. With his current health issues and their full-time commitment to S2G...they have decided something had to give.
That being said...they LOVE LOVE LOVE the 'stamping' business, so the option of S2G closing up shop is...NOT an option. With Digital Stamps, they will create new and whimsical 'images"...sell them on line...but have NO packaging, shipping or invoicing. Also, with digital stamps...they will have more family time...and...YOU...save..money, storage and time.
That's it! Well, that's almost it...S2G is putting everything (except the current digitals) on SALE at 45% OFF.ThisSALE is limited to stock on hand...so when it's gone, it's gone! SO, get on over there and check out all of the wonderful clear stamps while they are still available.Go Shopping HERE!
We hope this change will be exciting for you, too! Here's to 2010 and a VERY EXCITING year for S2G!
It's ABC Toys & Crafts Tuesday!! Instead of making a card, I decided I'd make some gift tags. A personalized or hand-made gift tag can add such a wonderful touch to the presentation of a package, don't you think? So here's the scoop:
MERRIEST CHRISTMAS TO YOU!
I started with a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" base, and trimmed the upper corners to create the shape of a tag. I chose one of the fun and funky patterns from the K & Company DP pad called Swell Noel - lots of super retro and non-traditional holiday colors and patterns in this pad - LOVE IT! I punched a border on the contrasting Ocean Tides CS using one of the new Martha Stewart "Punch Around the Page" punches called Eyelet Lace. I added a bit of sewing with my Janome Sew Mini, and attached that panel to the tag base. I punched a scalloped circle from Berry Sorbet CS. I stamped the package from the Penny Black clear stamp set called "Giving & Receiving" - once in Ocean Tides ink, and once in Berry Sorbet ink. I popped the package up with 3-D Squares, and then popped the bow up again for more dimension. I then stamped the sentiment from the Giving & Receiving stamp set in Versamark, and then heat embossed it with white embossing powder. I punched a snowflake using the Martha Stewart Glacial Snowflake punch, added a 3-D Square on the back and a button on the front, and adhered it to the tag base with a glue dot. Punched a hole with my Crop-A-Dile, added some organdy polka dot ribbon, and voila' -- a gift tag!!
SEASONS GREETINGS!
STAMPS: Giving & Receiving (Penny Black) INK:Versamark PAPER: Swell Noel DP (K & Company), Red Hot CS (Poptone), Spring Rain CS (PTI), White CS (Neenah) ACCESSORIES: Pinking Shears, Janome Sew Mini, Scalloped Circle Punch (SU), White Embossing Powder (Zing/American Crafts), Crop-A-Dile, Glacial Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart), Double Loops Punch Around the Page Border Punch (Martha Stewart), 3-D Squares (EK Success), Spring Rain Button (PTI), Scrapper's Floss (Karen Foster), Glue Dots, Organdy Polka Dot Ribbon
WE WISH YOU!
STAMPS: Giving & Receiving (Penny Black) INK:Versamark PAPER: Swell Noel DP (K & Company), Ocean Tides CS (PTI), White CS (Neenah), Red Hot CS (Poptone) ACCESSORIES: Pinking Shears, Janome Sew Mini, Scalloped Circle Punch (SU), White Embossing Powder (Zing/American Crafts), Crop-A-Dile, Glacial Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart), , 3-D Squares (EK Success), Scallop 3-Dot Punch Around the Page Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Ocean Tides Button (PTI), Scrapper's Floss (Karen Foster), Glue Dots, White Polka Dot Ribbon (Jilli Bean)
For the most part, all three tags were made the same way. I've listed the products used for each of them below their corresponding picture - if you have questions about what I did, please feel free to email me.
It's time once again for another Shirley's 2 Girls Twisted Thursday sketch challenge! I hope you're all ready for some fun, fun, fun!!
Here's the sketch for this week, and the twist is to use RIC RAC or RIBBONyour design!
The image that I got to work with this week is a brand new clear stamp called"Mouse In Stocking (SG 298)." I colored the image with my Copic markers. My girlie, Terri, did that amazing sponging around the outside of the image for me - didn't she do an incredible job? I REALLY need to figure out how to do that!! And I'm proud to say that I used BOTH items that the twist called for. The ric rac on the red polka dot scalloped panel is a sticker that coordinates with the DP that I used. And that yummy ribbon is one of the things that I picked up at the crop that I went to last Friday night.
I know you all want to play along with us this week - you know you do, too. Well, all you have to do is create a card using this week's sketch (don't forget the twist!), and then click on the blinkie below - that'll take you right to Mr. Linky (as well as all the rules and regulations of playing along) where you need to upload a link to your project. Oh, and if you want some amazing and instant-gratification digi images - check out the Digi Imagessection in the Shirley's 2 Girls store. Cute stuff, I tell ya!!Oh, and not only do you have the chance to win a free stamp set of your choice, if you're the winner, you get a special blinkie for your blog! How cool is that?!! We'd so much love to have you play with us this week!!
Need some more inspiration? Check out the incredible creations that the rest of the S2G DT has in store for you!
PAPER:Tis the Season DP (Bo Bunny), Pure Poppy CS (PTI), Blu Raspberry CS (Poptone), White CS (Neenah) ACCESSORIES:Classic and Scalloped Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Scalloped Piercabilities (Spellbinders), Copic Markers, Cuttlebug, Stampin' Dimensionals, Ribbon (LSS), Ric Rac Sticker (Bo Bunny), Janome Sew Mini
******** If you click on the blinkie above, it'll take you to the biggest sale on S2G stamps that the sisters have ever had! Every S2G stamp is on sale for 25% off. You're not going to want to miss this opportunity to get ahold of any of the S2G stamps that you've been wanting. 25% off people!! Oh, and don't forget about those "turkeys", which you can still find at enormous discounts right HERE.
So what do you think of my new blog banner? It's a new kit done by Zoe Pearn and I got it at Sweet Shoppe Designs. Amazing digital kits, and really cute blog wear, for sure!! I like to change things up every now and then, so this popped up at the perfect time!
On to much cuter things than blog banners. Every other month, I get a box full of amazing goodies from Julie Foote, the owner of ABC Toys & Crafts. Let me tell you that the boxes I've received over the past few months have been unbelievably full to the brim with some of the cutest and most fun products I've ever worked with. If you're familiar with my blog, you know I struggle with the "vintage" or "shabby chic" look. I love looking at it, drooling over it, admiring it - but simply cannot get comfortable with recreating that look for myself. It mostly has to do with the smudgy edges of things, the distressing, and the non-linear shape of things. Just can't do it and be happy with the end result. So this month's box had a Crafty Secrets set inside called "Baby Boy." Even though I struggle with most things vintage, I decided that I didn't necessarily have to create a vintage card with a vintage image. Do I?!! Nope, I don't! So here's what I did.
First, of all there are so many cute images in this clear set. My mind was swimming with ideas, but I ultimately decided to use the little paper boy baby as my main image. I stamped him on white cardstock with Tuxedo Black Memento ink. I colored him with my Copics - just wanted his cute little pink body to be a subtle pop, so I used the lightest red - R0000. I outlined him in the lightest blue (B0000) and gave his little feet a shadow using my Lyra colored pencils and Gamsol. Easy peasy!
I stamped the little wood pull toy image on the ric rac strip (created using my EK Success Zig Zag border punch). To create the little ric rac circle frame around the main image, I used my Scalloped Circle Nestabilities and Inverted Scalloped Circle Nestabilities, layering one inside the other, and running it through my Cuttlebug all at once (I usually use a bit of repositionable tape to keep them in place), and that look of ric rac is what resulted. Isn't it too fun?!! A little bit of ribbon, a cute little button, and some last minute stitching on my Janome Sew Mini, and I have myself a darling little baby boy card that I think any new mom would be thrilled to pieces with. Might just have to hang on to this one for my new grandbaby in May! Hehehe
I had the most fun night with my stamping peeps last night. A group of us attended a crop at one of the local scrapbook stores in Mesa. The store is one of my faves, and the crop was a hoot! I didn't get a ton accomplished because I was too busy yacking and eating this yummy Toffee Popcorn stuff that my bud, Terri, brought. OMGosh - this stuff is amazing!! It was a super fun night, for sure.
My sweet friend, Georgia, gave me this fun blog award. I don't usually post these (mostly because I'm a dingbat), but I thought this one was kinda fun. It's an award, and a little survey.
The Rules are: Pass this award on to five people, post on their blog to let them know you have left this award for them. And then answer a list of questions in one word! so here goes:
1. Where is your mobile?...couch
2. Your hair?... foiled
3. Your Mother?... creative
4. Your Father?... outdoorsy
5. Your favorite food?... Mexican
6. Your Dream last night?... sad
7. Your Fav Drink?... mocha
8. Your Dream?... travel
9. What room are you in?... television
10. Your Hobby?... papercrafts
11. Fear?... heights
12. Where do you want to be in 5 years?... solvent
13. Where were you last night?... crop
14. Something that you aren't?... frugal
15. Muffins... comfort
16. Wish List Item?... Keurig
17. Where did you grow up?... Washington
18. Last thing you did?... ate
19. What are you wearing?... jeans
20. Your TV?... huge
21. Pets?... Cat
22. Friends?... amazing
23. Mood?... sleepy
24. Life?... blessed
25. Missing someone?... yes
26. Vehicle?... Lexus
27. Something you're not wearing?...coat
28. Fav store?...Container
29. Fav Colour?... aqua
30. When was last time you laughed?... 9:30
31. Last time you cried?... Thursday
32. Best Friend?... Joni
33. One place that i go to over n over? Michael's
34. Facebook?... yes
35. Fav place to eat? couch
Thanks, Georgia! That was too fun! I'll pass this award on to Terri, Kim, Justine, Erin and Anne.
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If you don't have any plans tonight, we'd love to have you join us at SNR/Card Universe for the Shirley's 2 Girls Digi Saturday event tonight, starting at 5:00 p.m. PST. There will be a free digi available to all who join in, and I have no doubt there will loads of laughs to go along with it. We're fun group of silly gals that love to have fun, so please join us if you can!!
It's time once again for the Shirley's 2 Girls Twisted Thursday sketch challenge. I hope you're all ready for some fun, fun, fun!!
Here's the sketch for this week, and the twist is to use WIRE in your design!
The image that I got to work with this week is a brand new digital image called"Scarecrow (SG 310)." I colored the image with my Copic markers, and then gave him an "autumn glow" with my Lyras and Gamsol. I'm thrilled with the end result. I had a blast with this layout. Note the curly wire attached to the sentiment. I nearly panicked when I saw that the twist was to use wire - I didn't own any wire. That is, until I went to the rubber stamp show this past weekend. I was wandering around the show and happened upon this cute little box of curly wire embellies - quickly whipped out my $5 and bought them! Easy peasy!!
I know you all want to play along with us this week - you know you do, too. Well, all you have to do is create a card using this week's sketch (don't forget the twist!), and then click on the blinkie below - that'll take you right to Mr. Linky (as well as all the rules and regulations of playing along) where you need to upload a link to your project. Oh, and if you want some amazing and instant-gratification digi images - check out the Digi Images section in the Shirley's 2 Girls store. Cute stuff, I tell ya!! Oh, and not only do you have the chance to win a free stamp set of your choice, if you're the winner, you get a special blinkie for your blog! How cool is that?!! We'd so much love to have you play with us this week!!
Need some more inspiration? Check out the incredible creations that the rest of the S2G DT has in store for you!
STAMPS:Scarecrow (SG 310) INK: None (it was a digital image!) PAPER: A Walk In the Park DP (Upsy Daisy), Kraft CS (PTI), Kiwi Kiss CS (SU), White CS (Neenah) ACCESSORIES: Classic and Scalloped Square Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Lyra Colored Pencils, Gamsol, Copic Markers, Cuttlebug, Stampin' Dimensionals, Large Oval Punch (SU), Scalloped Oval Punch (SU), curly wire, corner rounder punch (SU), 1" Circle Punch (Martha Stewart)
******** If you click on the blinkie above, it'll take you to the biggest sale on S2G stamps that the sisters have ever had! Every S2G stamp is on sale for 25% off starting today. You're not going to want to miss this opportunity to get ahold of any of the S2G stamps that you've been wanting. 25% off people!! Oh, and don't forget about those "turkeys", which you can still find at enormous discounts right HERE.
In a huge rush today, so I don't have a lot of time to chat. But I wanted to show you a couple of cards that I made up for a local stamp show that I went to this past weekend. Each day had a different theme. The theme for Saturday was "recycling" and the theme for Sunday was "holiday goodies." I am embarrassed to admit that the recycling theme really had me stumped. But I threw this together, and crossed my fingers that it would fly. Apparently it didn't, because I didn't win. Boo! It features a stamp from Memory Box called Eclipse Tree.
I was, however, totally inspired by the "holiday goodies" theme and went to town. My first card features a stamp set from Waltzing Mouse Stamps called Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy. My second card features a digital stamp from Whimsie Doodles called Ginger Greetings. I'll have to come back later to add the rest of the source information for you. Suffice it to say, neither of these inspired the judges . . . but that's okay. I had a really fun day hanging with my stamping buddy, Kim, so it's all good.
It's another ABC Toys & Crafts Tuesday share! Today's card features Penny Black's clear stamp set called "Giving & Receiving." I've been seeing all these circle sentiments all over stamp land, but I don't own any, so I made my own. The sentiment - We Wish You A Merry Christmas - came with the set, only it's actually meant to be wavy. I bent it and attached it to a block that had Tack N Peel adhesive on it, which gave it that little extra oomph to keep it in place (just ONE of the MANY benefits of clear acrylic stamps - LOVE THAT!) I inked it up, and stamped it onto my circle panel (cut out with my Classic Circle Nestabilities) three times, leaving a bit of a gap between stamps. Then I stamped the tree image with Versamark onto the green designer paper, and heat embossed it with white embossing powder. I cut it out and popped it up using 3-D Dimensional Squares, and added some Red Self-Adhesive Rhinestones for extra zing and bling. I added Citron Self-Adhesive Rhinestones in the gaps between the sentiments. Then I cut out another panel, using the same designer paper as the tree, using my Labels One Nestabilities, and placed it behind the circle panel. A few buttons here, a little ribbon there, and you've got yourself another fun and funky Christmas card! I'm pretty happy with how this turned out. It's big - 5" x 7" - but that's okay, right?!
There are some other fun events going on at ABC Toys & Crafts right now that I wanted to share with my peeps.
*First - Julie's giving away one of the brand spankin' new Martha Stewart Stamp & Punch Cupcake Sets as blog candy. Check out the ABC Design Team Blog HERE for all the details on that very generous give-away - contest expires on November 13, 2009.
*Second - Julie's such a generous gal that she's offering a "Good Customer" discount - 15% off your entire purchase if you use the Discount Code GCD1009 at checkout. Only good one time and offer ends December 31st, 2009. You must create an account for the code to work. Julie carries some amazing products (including Copic Markers), and her service is second to none - check out her store HERE.
I have some other Christmas cards to share with you tomorrow. I entered them in a contest at a local stamp show, but didn't win. Dang it! LOL But I did have a fun day hanging with one of my new stampin' buddies, so it was all good.
It's time once again for the Shirley's 2 Girls Twisted Thursday sketch challenge. I hope you're all ready for some fun, fun, fun!!
Here's the sketch for this week, and the twist is to use Kraft cardstock or a kraft colored grocery bag in your design!
The image that I got to work with this week is a brand new digital image called"Blessings (SG 308)." I colored the image with my Lyra's and Gamsol - love the Gamsol Magic technique. I'm thrilled with the end result. I had a blast with this layout - as is somewhat deviant on my part, I flipped the sketch. I wanted the feel of the card to be like Grandma's kitchen table - I love the ecru lace, don't you? I used my Labels 8 Nestabilities to create a frame for the main image, and popped up the horn o' plenty with some dimensionals. The leaf charm and the acorn punch were last minute additions that I think add a fall feeling to my card, as well.
I know you all want to play along with us this week - you know you do, too. Well, all you have to do is create a card using this week's sketch (don't forget the twist!), and then click on the blinkie below - that'll take you right to Mr. Linky (as well as all the rules and regulations of playing along) where you need to upload a link to your project. Oh, and if you want some amazing and instant-gratification digi images - check out the Digi Images section in the Shirley's 2 Girls store. Cute stuff, I tell ya!! Oh, and not only do you have the chance to win a free stamp set of your choice, if you're the winner, you get a special blinkie for your blog! How cool is that?!! We'd so much love to have you play with us this week!!
Need some more inspiration? Check out the incredible creations that the rest of the S2G DT has in store for you!
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If you click on the Turkey Blinkie in my right hand column, that'll take you to probably the best Shirley's 2 Girls sale EVER!! Those generous sisters are offering up all kinds of goodies at a super duper discount so that they can make room for more new stuff. You really should check it out - stuff is flying off the shelves, so don't wait!!
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Is it too early to start setting the table for Thanksgiving dinner?! LOL Yes, I'm a planner . . . love to have stuff done way in advance so that I know what goes where and when. One of my most favorite things to do for big holiday dinners is to set a pretty table. Even though we're only having a few people for dinner this year, I still want to have a fun tablescape, so with the help of Shirley's 2 Girls, I've made a couple more Thanksgiving-themed table items that I wanted to share with you today.
My first project is a menu board that I made using a 5" x 7" acrylic frame that I picked up at Hobby Lobby, some cardstock, ribbon, and one of Shirley's 2 Girls new Thanksgiving images called Blessings (SG308). Oh, and the coolest part of this project? See that while panel on the front of the Menu Board? It's the same material as a white board that you can use Dry Erase pens to write out your menu on. It's called Wallies White Dry Erase Sheets, and you can find them HERE. The material is super thin - I cut the shape and size using my paper trimmer. I filled out my menu using Dry Erase pens (that I got on sale at Hobby Lobby for 50% off!!), and what's so cool is that I can erase it and write a new menu for NEXT Thanksgiving!! And the "Blessing" panel was made such that I can slide it out and slide a new one in for the NEXT holiday!! You could create a designed panel for every holiday at your house!! Or you could decorate it and use it to write notes or leave messages in your kitchen. How cute is that?!!
My second project is sort of a duplicate of the Menu Board, but I created little place cards for the people coming to dinner. I used the digi place card images from Shirley's 2 Girls - love the instant gratification aspect of digi images - I get them RIGHT NOW! I also cut small strips of the Wallies White Dry Erase sheets, peeled off the backing, and adhered them to the cute little place cards that I created. Now if my guest list changes, I can erase the name and put someone else's name there. AND I can reuse them for next year, too!! Pretty cool, huh?
Here's a picture of all of the Shirley's 2 Girls Thanksgiving themed projects that I made for my Thanksgiving table - including the wine glass charms that I showed you on Monday. If you have any questions about any of these projects, please feel free to drop me an email or post a note here.
