SSS25 Harvest Bowl

Views of Inside and an Upclose View of Main Image

Click on pictures for better viewing

Wow! It's the weekend already...this week has just flown by, at least it has for me. And because it's Saturday, The Sweet Stop has a new Sketch Challenge for you and you can view the sketch by clicking on the following link:
http://sweetstopsketches.blogspot.com/

And of course, the card I've posted today is using this fabulous sketch!

I stamped the main image 2 times, colored one image completely and colored only the outer edges of the second image...I then cut off the outside border of the completely colored main image and attached it to the other image using dimensionals.
I then decided I wanted just a few pieces of the fruit to have some dimension, so I stamped the image a third time, colored the left apple, the lower right pear and red grapes, cut them out and attached them using glue dots...this gives it just a slight bit of dimension. Once the image was complete, I covered the bowl and the 3 pieces of fruit with crystal effects, dusted on just a tiny bit of dazzling diamond glitter, and then let it dry completely...IRL, the red grapes look as if they have a bit of frost on them...(have you ever had frozen grapes... they are fun to eat in the summer and they usually have a bit of 'frost' on them when you take them from the freezer).

The main image is attached to the 3" circular pattern paper piece and the circle is attached to the main layer using dimensionals. In the end, there is quite a bit of dimension going on with the main image area...which in my humble opinion, is a great look for this card.

After adding 2 Red medium sized shimmer brads to the top right portion of the card, I added the ribbon... making the bow using my fantastic Bow Easy tool...that darn tool is just so cool, and only cost $6.00 from Sharon's Store...I do believe it is one of my MOST FAVORITE tools!

For the inside, I printed the digital sentiment onto a textured piece of solid paper from the Mi Casa Solid Stack... added more strips of pattern paper--on which I used the Diamond Lace Border Punch for one of the layers... and to finish the inside...Of course....I just HAD to add another ribbon and bow!

Sounds like a lot of work, but it all goes together quite quickly...well, it does once you have your plan....

I hope each of you will take some time to view the sketch and think about playing along with us, we would LOVE to have you join us. And if you decide to play along, be sure and link your card to the Mr. Linky feature at the end of the SSS sketch challenge post. If for some reason Mr. Linky is not working, please leave a comment with a link to your project in the comment section of the post. I do take time to view each card posted for the challenge and would be so happy to find YOUR name amongst the talent!

Card D-Tails:
Stamped Main Image: Fruit Bowl 2029 (Karen Lockhart): http://www.lockhartstampcompany.com/2000FruitsVeggies_2006.htm
Inside Digital Image: Harvest Fruits (Sweet N' Sassy Stamps)
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Base is Gina K Pure Luxury Ivory/Image stamped onto Neena Solar White
Image colored using Copic Markers
Patterned Papers: Mi Casa Stack & Mi Casa Solid Stack (DCWV)
Embellishments/Tools: 3/8" sheer Ivory Ribbon (Michaels), Bow Easy (purchased from Sharon Johnson's Online Ribbon/Tool Store), Diamond Lace Border Punch (Martha Stewart), 3" Circle Punch (Marvy Uchida), Shimmer Brads (Making Memories purchased from Eclectic Paperie), Dimensionals and Glue Dots, Diamond Dust Glitter and Crystal Effects (SU)

Have a great weekend....and be sure to spend time with your family and friends!
Until next time,

Make time to create but remember to have fun and enjoy the experience!
Barbg(WV)

Hi Friend SNSS Freebie Day

WooooooooHoooooooo.....it's Freebie Thursday at Sweet N' Sassy Stamps....but I only have a minute to tell you about it....got to hurry out the door for music practice at the church. So...I went to SNSS this morning and grabbed the free image....printed it out....colored it up....used a sketch design by Julie Masse of 'StampinwithJulie' blog ( http://stampinwithjulie.blogspot.com/2009/09/prettie-sketch-wednesday-and-some-news.html ) and then quickly pulled this little friend together so I could show you what you can get FREE...but that offer is for today only! Go and grab it today because if you wait until tomorrow or later, you will have to shell out some bucks to get it!

While you are at SNSS take a look at the fantastic new images being released today, they are super...I've already purchased mine and will be using them soon!

OK....here is the link for SNSS~~~~

http://sweetnsassystamps.biz/shop/index.php?main_page


Alrighty, I'll try to get back tonight with the details for this card....I REALLY have to get out the door RIGHT NOW.......

Until next time,

Make time to create but remember to have fun and enjoy the experience!
Barbg(WV)

Edited to add:
I wrote the above post in such a rush this morning that there are few points I failed to mention....first, the free image is a DIGITAL image. If you go to the SNSS website you will find this free digital image. The image is illustrated by Leah Cornelius, a new digi designer for SNSS! Secondly, today, you can get the complete set, which includes the image I used on my card and 2 sentiments, Free!!! What a super fantastic way to begin your digital stamp collection. If you are unfamiliar with how to use Digital stamping...go to my sidebar and look under 'Digital Stamping...How it all works -- Tutorials'....Deedee Anderson has created these tutorials to help beginners learn how to print, crop, flip, and rotate digital images. There are other sites with tutorials for digital images also, but at this time I do not have permission to use their information on my blog...but nearly all stamp companies, who offer digital images, have information about downloading and working with digital images on their specific website. I resisted using them for so long, but once I got started I have come to enjoy them very much and now prefer to order digi's...especially for images that I know probably won't be used for a long period of time (having said that, they will stay on your files until you delete them). Digi's are much less expensive than clear or rubber stamps and work with most of the common printers and inks....it's the paper you use to print them on that makes the most difference...and for printing my digi's, I prefer Neena Solar White or PapertreyInc select white....and occasionally I use Gina K's 80# and/or 120# weight papers. Some people have great success with Stampin' Up! white and Georgia Pacific White (from Walmart) but because I use Copics for coloring those papers don't do as well for ME, having said that, I know some who use those papers with Copic markers and have great success.
OK...enough about that.

My card D-Tails:
base cardstock: PTI select white
Image printed onto PTI select white
Image colored with Copic Markers
Embellies/Tools: Pearls, Stickles, EK Success Diamond Lace Border Punch, Marvy Uchida 3" Scallop Circle Punch, Martha Stewart 1" circular punch, 5/8" wide Red Grosgrain Ribbon (SU), white cotton embroidery thread, Spritzer (SU), Glue Dots, Dimensionals (SU).

Simple Thanks

Wow....the last few weeks have been full of twists and turns and have kept me hoppin'. Everything seems to be calming down now, though....my best friend, Becky, is coping fairly well following the sudden death of her husband...my grandson is doing very well following his 'swine flu' scare (the rest of the family has followed suit with this flu, but they are all on the mend now)...and today I was able to take the time needed to put together a little thank you gift for each of the particpants of my very first sketch challenge "PMSSC01" (those packages will be put in the mail tomorrow for Terri, Michelle, Jess, Penny, Grace, and Deedee...thanks ladies for being patient with me).

Today's card is a very simple 'Thank You' card...when I need to 'reproduce' cards, I tend to keep it very simple...I really don't enjoy mass production of cards, but sometimes you just have to do it and this was just one of those times.

I am working on some cards for the SNSS Sugar Baby Design Team, but of course, I can't share those with you right now....hehehehe....you will have to check back each Saturday to see what we have going on, and I will tell you, there are some totally AWESOME cards being crafted for all of you to enjoy. Be sure and click on the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge badge on my sidebar to see the latest challenge and play along with us!

And don't forget to check out the Sweet N' Sassy Stamps Website every Thursday for a FREE Digital Image...Every Thursday Korin will be offering a free image, but the offer is good for that day only...check it out by clicking on the following link:
http://www.sweetnsassystamps.biz/shop/

Hope everyone has a wonderful week....stay healthy!

Until next time,

Spend time with your family and friends and then,
Make time to create but remember to have fun and enjoy the experience!
Barbg(WV)


Card D-Tails:
Stamp: Inkadinkado
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black
Papers: Select White C/S (PTI), Basic Black C/S (SU), Pattern Papers Black & White (Me & My Big Ideas)
Embellishments/Tools: satin white ribbon (Michaels), Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Bow Easy (from Sharon's Ribbon/Tool Online Store)

SSS24 Sugar Baby Poppies

I have some fun and exciting news to share with all of you today...I've decided to do something I've often said I'd never do....(Someday I'll learn the meaning of 'never say never')....I've accepted an invitation from Korin Sutherland ( owner of Sweet N' Sassy Stamps) to be part of her Sugar Baby Design Team. This newest team will work with the Sweet Stop Blog -- a Sketch Challenge blog where each Saturday you will find a new and exciting Sketch Challenge along with the sample cards from each member of the Sugar Baby Team!

But,here's the BEST news... you will be allowed to use any stamp product of your choice AND any stamp image from whatever designer/company your sweet little heart desires.... how FANTASTIC is that!

I was so thrilled with this innovative idea that I just HAD to say YES.

Today is the beginning of the first Sugar Baby Design Team. Each week we will design a card or project using the most current Sketch from the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge. I hope you will join us and participate with the sketch challenges each Saturday. And I'm sure you will find a boatload of inspiration as you visit each blog of the super and awesome design team...you'll find them listed under my right sidebar entitled, 'Sweet Stop Sugar Babies'.

For this first Sugar Baby Challenge, I've opted to use a digital image from Sketching Stampers Digi Stamps, called "Poppies":

http://sketchingstamperdigi-stamps.blogspot.com/

I've printed the image onto Neena Solar White Cardstock and colored it using Copic Markers (I know...do I really have to tell you that again, LOL). The pattern papers are from an 8 X 8 paper pad called 'Poppy Paper Stack' by Sei...they are so gorgeous, I just love them...so much so, that I have been 'hoarding' them for a very long time.

The white layer beneath the main image is embossed using a Cuttlebug Folder. That luscious rose pink ribbon is 100% silk and I used my Bow Easy to make the bow....the Bow Easy is absolutely fabulous and easy to use. Both the ribbon and the Bow Easy were purchased from Sharon Johnson's 'Stamp Simply Ribbon and Tools' online store located on her blog, 'No Time To Stamp'.

(http://notimetostamp.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/)

On another note: Thursday night, my middle daughter and I spent several hours together consoling one another while my son-in-law and one of my grandson's spent their time in the ER.... my grandson had experienced what we thought was 'just a severe asthma attack'. Several hours later and after a couple of breathing treatments, some x-rays, a blood test, a mouth swab and lots of waiting, it was finally determined that our 'little guy' has the swine flu! He was given Tamiflu and observed until 4 a.m. Friday morning. The whole scenario played out very quickly and progressed rapidly...it certainly had his Mom (my daughter) and Me very concerned and praying diligently. If you have young children, please don't assume that a little cough and temperature is just a 'bad cold'....call your doctor and make an appointment to be certain it is nothing more serious. If my grandson's asthma had not been affected, we probably would not have sent him to the ER as soon as we did and his treatment may not have been as effective. The doctors told us that the swine flu can progress quite rapidly, causes the person to feel extreme fatigue, and as my grandson did--begin crying because 'everything just hurts' he said. God was good and my grandson is now home resting.....which will be all he is allowed to do for the first couple of days... he will also be out of school all next week. This was a scary situation and we are so very thankful to God for the positive outcome with this situation. Now, we have to try and keep the other 3 kiddo's well, along with Mom and Dad.

I pray all of you and your loved ones will stay healthy....

Thank you for stopping by today and I pray you will all have a wonderful and blessed weekend.

Until next time,

Take time to enjoy your loved ones and then,

Make time to create but remember to have fun and enjoy the experience!

Barbg(WV)

SSS22 You're a Hoot!

The above card uses a sketch from Sweet N' Sassy's SSS22 Sketch Challenge...."A Sketch with a Spin". The 'spin' was to use the colors red, tan, and black on the project. My pattern papers are from Basic Grey's 'June Bug' 6X6 paper pad. I colored the white areas of the black/white dotted paper with a tan colored copic marker so that the paper would blend in with the color scheme.

I thought adding the natural string to the scalloped lace would work well with the branch on the main image. I also used the tan copic marker to edge around the white circle of the main image. Of course, the image is colored using my favorite coloring tools -- Copic Markers.

Other D-Tails:

Cardstock: PTI Select White, Gina K Pure Luxury Rocket Red, SU Basic Black, PTI Kraft

Stamped Image: "Owl Occassions" (SNSS)

Embellishments/Tools: Scalloped Circle Punch, Circle Punch, Pearls, Crocheted Lace, Natural String, Black Micron Permanent Ink Pen, Dimensionals

Encouraging words continue to arrive in my email and I do appreciate each and every one of them.

I'd also like to WELCOME all of my new 'Followers'....I'm so glad you are here!

Until next time,

Make time to create but remember to have fun and enjoy the experience!

Barbg(WV)

Update and Thank You!

Ladies.....I cannot find the right words to tell each of you just how much all of your messages have blessed my heart! I never expected to have so many responses. I'm getting home much later tonight than I had anticipated, but I just felt I couldn't let another day go by without thanking each one of you! I've read every message and they were so encouraging to read. For those expressing thoughts for my friend, Becky, I will be passing those on to her as well.
Quickly, she is 'holding' up for now....family and friends have been coming and going since last Thursday...she has not had much time to herself, but I guess the Lord is using this as a 'distractor' for these first few days. Hopefully, next week she will have some time for herself....a time when she will be able to 'break down and cry' without others feeling as if they have to 'make her feel better'. People do mean well, and she knows they are trying to help, so she is not turning anyone away right now. She's indicated that next week, when everyone else goes back to their 'regularly scheduled programs', she may be able to sit and contemplate all that has occured over the last few days and begin to 'mourn' in the manner she would like. At that time, we will sit together and cry as much as she needs and talk through the feelings that are all bottled up within her heart.

But for now, I want to thank all of you for the love and compassion you have shown....it means more to me than you could ever know.

I have so many things to tell you about, stamping things, good things, a card to share and some big news to share, but I'm really, really tired tonight.

I will be back soon with the exciting news (at least for me, it is exciting) and hopefully with a couple of more cards to share.

I do have a card sitting here I had done for the Sweet N' Sassy Stamps Sketch SSS22...I had it finished before getting the news of my friend, but didn't have a chance to get a picture until this afternoon....I'll try to get that posted tomorrow.

Again, my heart wishes it could just jump right through the computer and into the room of each and every one of you...to give you a big hug of thanks, in person. But, since I cannot do that, please believe that my heart is reaching out to each of you with a big hug, if only in spirit.

I pray each of you will have a wonderful and blessed week!

You are all very dear to my heart!

Until next time,
Make time to create but remember to have fun and enjoy the experience!
Barbg(WV)

A Time To Mourn

My dear friends,

This will be a quick post....and perhaps not well written... but hopefully will address the specific purpose:


This Wednesday morning I received a call from a member of our church staff...He was calling at the request of my best friend from church...At 4:30 a.m. that morning, my friend found her husband slumped on the floor of their hallway and non-responsive.....After examination at our local hospital, it was determined he had suffered a massive brain hemorrhage and had to be intubated to support his breathing...he was then 'airlifted' to a larger hospital that could better assess his condition and administer his care. Arriving to this larger hospital approximately 1 hour later than her husband, my friend was given devastating and life changing news....the hemmorage was extremely massive causing sudden and severe swelling within the brain and brain stem....his life expectancy was at best not more than 24-48 hours with life support, mere minutes without.

Upon hearing this information, I immediately dropped EVERYTHING and took off to the hospital, arriving at 11:30 a.m. My friend's husband was being 'kept alive' via breathing tube and other medical paraphernalia...in hopes this would allow the families of their 4 grown children (3 of which lived out-of-town) the time needed to arrive to the hospital. This unexpected news would take time for each of them to 'process' in order to 'prepare' their hearts and mind for the decision that must be made....to remove life support, with little 'hope' for a positive end result.

I have been at the hospital during this entire time, giving support and encouragement to my friend and saying my own goodbye's to her husband....this situation is never 'easy' to bear and it is only by God's grace that we are able to do so. More importantly, it is only because of our Faith and Trust in our Lord and Savior, that we can find some measure of Hope and Peace through it all. And God was gracious, giving each of us the strength to endure this time of sorrow and make the decisions that must be made.


Sadly, at 11:10 a.m. this Thursday morning, life support was pulled and immediately the heart stopped...the husband, the father, the grandfather, and the friend was now in the very presence of His Heavenly Father.


It was so very difficult for my friend to walk away from the bedside of her beloved husband, of more than 38 years. To know she would never again-- in this life time-- see his face nor his smile....would not again hold his hand nor feel his touch...hear his gentle voice nor his witty sense-of-humor.... 'who he was' while on this earth, would 'no longer be'. And while we know we will someday be together again in Heaven, we will miss him dearly in this present life.


My friend is experiencing a great amount of sadness and since of loss. The four of us have shared a great Christian friendship for several years and her husband, our friend, will be tremendously missed.


Due to this situation, I expect to spend much of my time during this next week supporting my friend and being available to her in any way possible.

Knowing how difficult this next 'transition' in life will be for my dear friend, I will be away from this blog and from all of my stamping groups for a short while.

I wanted all of you to know, I have not just gone AWOL, but will be 'ministering' in other ways to help my friend during this great time of grief.

There is so much more to the whole story, but I do not feel I can write of it all....at least at this time. I truly appreciate your understanding of this time I will be away from you.


Penny, Jess, Terri, Michelle, Grace, and Deedee....Will you please allow me another week or so to put your 'winning packages' together....I do not think I will be able to get these together as quickly as I had hoped. I'm very sorry for this delay and hope you will understand. You will get your prize packages, it will just take me a little bit more time....Thank you so much for your patience and understanding.

Until next time,

May your lives be abundantly blessed because of the love you share with family and friends.

Barbg(WV)

PMSSC01 Congratulations

It is so wonderful to have all of you coming to my blog today! I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend and will enjoy many blessings in the coming week!

Some of you are eagerly waiting to see whose card has been selected for the PMSSC01 Challenge and I will get to that in just a moment.

We had 6 people submit a total of 12 cards. Two ladies, Penny and Jess, submitted 4 cards each.....giving each of them 4 chances to have one of their cards chosen from among the twelve....I think in math terms they each had a 4:12 ratio and the other contributors had a 1:12 ratio, LOL...it has been ages since I thought in terms of ratio, I can't believe I just did that!

I had hoped to use Random. org to choose a winning card, but I was never able to figure out how to make that 'tool' work. And so, I had to come up with an alternative method. I could have just drawn one name out of a bucket, but I thought it might be more fun to involve the participants of the challenge. With that in mind, I came up with the following alternative.

Before asking each of the participants to choose one number from 1-12, I made slips of paper to represent each card submitted. After folding each slip of paper over and over again, dumping all of them into a bucket, shaking the bucket and tossing the slips of paper around and around, I drew out one slip of paper at a time and assigned each a number beginning with the number 1 and ending with the number 12....the first paper out was assigned number 1, the seond paper assigned number 2, so-on-and-so-forth until each card was assigned a 'randomly drawn' number.
The above picture will show how each card was represented along with the number assigned.

This morning I received the final 'vote' from the participants and I am now happy to announce the winning card....randomly selected via all participants of the PMSSC01 Sketch Challenge.

Congratulations!

Card number 8

Deedee Anderson

Deedee has won

Stampin' Up!

Simply Sent Stampin' Kit

"Three Thoughts"

Here is the result of each vote:

Jess chose the number 3
Grace chose the number 8
Terri chose the number 8
Deedee chose the number 4
Penny chose the number 11
Michelle chose the number 12

But I'm gonna 'spread the love'

Everyone who participated will get a little something in the mail as well. Jess, Penny, Grace, Terri, Michelle....Please email me with your snail mail address and I will get that little something in the mail soon!

I want to thank each of you who participated...you have made this a fun challenge and I'm so blessed to have you share your talent with me on this blog!

And so...
Until next time...

Make time to create but remember to have fun and enjoy the experience!
Barbg(WV)