Sylvia's Stamping Corner

SMILE, YOU HAVE JUST BEEN PICKED TO RECEIVE AN AWARD

I am just now getting back to posting my winners of the Lemonade award. This award is given to a blogger who shows great attitude and gratitude. I was awarded this by Winter, who is in Sylvia's Favorites. My winners are as follows:  Amy, Amber, Ange, Donna, Leonie, and Tina. Thanks,  ladies for all the support you give me.

*Comment on this blog
*Cut and paste the logo and put on your own blog
*Pass it along to 5 other bloggers and link them to this post
*Comment on their blogs to let them know that they received something from you
*Link back to the person who gave the award to show appreciation

 

Amy Nelson  : http://www.anlinadesigns.com/blog

Amber Nelson : http://www.amberandstephen.com/amber

Ange Kelly:  http://www.angeliquekelly.blogspot.com

Donna: http://butternutsagedesigns.blogspot.com

Leonie Hegarty: http://astampersworld.blogspot.com

Tina : http://www.travelingmama.net

 

I made a card last night for this occasion. I got the pictures taken, but was so tired I knew I would not be able to finish with a post. Ladies, I hope this award brightens your day as it did mine when Winter gave it to me. I also hope you enjoy the card and have a great day!

 

LET A SMILE BE YOUR UMBRELLA!

KRISTINA WERNER'S COLOR INSPIRATION #50

Congratulations Kristina, on your 50th color challenge. The colors for this challenge were Brown, Red, Yellow, Turquoise, and white. This is a lot of color, so it took a lot of thought and organization. I pulled out everything I had to make this card, then picked and chose until I had this card. I wanted even my sentiment to express my congratulations.

I was awarded the Lemonade award a few days ago. It started me thinking about how you can takes lemons, add sugar and make lemonade. The colors were perfect for a beautiful glass of lemonade and what celebration is complete without the umbrella in this non alcoholic drink. So this card is for Kristina!

I used two of my favorite Stampin'Up! stamp sets, Cheers to You and Tart & Tangy. Card stock used was Real Red for card base, Yo Yo Yellow and Whisper White for accent elements. Designer paper used was Tempting Turquoise and Good Morning Sunshine. I used Basic Brown, Real Red, Yo Yo Yellow, and Tempting Turquoise ink. My accessories include Classy Brass Dots embossing plate, Scallop Circle punch, Coluzzle circle, Brown Satin ribbon from Valet collection, Iridescent Ice glitter, a blender pen, dimensionals and Tombow adhesive.

I wanted to make this card simple, but special. I have not completed 50 challenges, but since I started doing them, my cards have improved. The challenges open my mind and force me to think, plan, and evaluate what I have created and how I can do it better. For this I am grateful because I have grown and will continue to grow. I have also met such wonderfully friendly and truly creative women. When you start something at my age, you need to get better to feel like you are competing with the younger set.  When I was six, I wanted to take piano lessons. It did not happen until I was 13. I was playing with kids that were 6-8, and  had been taking for years. I was embarrassed. My first recital, I was last on the program and the teacher forgot me. I was so relieved, but my parents were not. I learned early in life to compete and to the best of my ability. I want everyone who has entered these challenges to know, that you will reach your goals, if you set them high enough. It all starts with baby steps. Thanks for the chance to share my card with you. If you do not do Kristina's challenges, visit her blog, found in Sylvia's Favorites. If you visit my blog and do the challenges be sure and leave a comment. I love each and every one of you! Have a great Day!

THE LEMONADE BLOGGING AWARD

One of the people I have down challenges with was awarded the Lemonade blogging award. I know her as Winter. She has been so supportive, commenting and generally making other bloggers feel right at home. So I understood immediately why she got the award. Last night I was typing away when I heard an e-mail come in. I always check what is coming in, but I was surprised that Winter had awarded the Lemonade award to me as well.

The award, as written on Winter's blog, is given to a blogger who shows great attitude and gratitude, I guess like taking lemons and making lemonade. Thank you, Winter. You will find Winter at: http://winterwonderlandcrafter.blogspot.com/  Winter definitely has a wonderful outlook and great personality, her cards are great, too. I will be passing this award on to some other people tomorrow. Today was almost a nightmare, I had to have a new dishwasher put in, a totally different story for another day. I wanted to at least get this link put up so Winter would know that I appreciated her thinking of me.

COLOR THROWDOWN CHALLENGE #39

This is a new challenge for me. Cathy Indelicato from Crafty thoughts is the creator of the challenge for this week. Eachmember of the Color Throwdown team has a week picking the colors for the challenge. I ran across the site while blogging and recognized one of the team members that I have had comments from and commented on her blog so I thought I would give it a go. I also liked the colors this week, Ruby Red, Black, and Barely Banana.

I used Real Red card stock for my card base, Used Basic Black for my mat, Whisper white which I hand embossed and edged with me new eyelet lace punch. I stamped my Lady bugs using the Hostess Level 1 Stampin'Up set and added Crystal Effects.  I cut my flowerwith the Sizzix die, Flower Layers #3, then brushed them with the sponge dauber in Barely Banana. I glittered it and topped it off with a red stamped center using the lady bug stamp again, cutting it with a 1/2" circle punch and adding a clear dome. Real Red striped grosgrain ribbon completed my card. I really wanted to find a sentiment but decided against it. Sometimes it is just nice to not have one and go against the norm.

Thanks to the Color Challenge Team. You can find them at: http://colorthrowdown.blogspot.com  Try a challenge! It stimulates the imagination and you meet very nice people. A shout out to LeAnne, it has been awhile since I have been to your blog. Thanks Cathy for the great colors. Have a great weekend and hope you enjoy my card.

YESTERDAY'S VISITOR, TODAY'S CARD

Yesterday, I was sitting at the computer downstairs. My ceiling is at the top of the second level. Glass basically surrounds me looking to the outside. I looked up and saw on my upstairs deck what looked like a very fuzzy cat under one of the deck chairs, huddled in the corner. My cats were in the enclosure under the deck so I got the camera and went upstairs to investigate. I looked out one of the windows off the deck and decided that my visitor was probably a raccoon. They are extremely dangerous as they are wild, and I am not very fast, especially in the confined space of a deck on the second floor. I was reluctant to go outside, but I did want a picture. So with camera in hand I proceeded to cautiously round the corner. The raccoon was not disturbed by me at all. He sat there looking as I was taking his picture and talking to him. Yes, I talk to animals. I wanted him to leave because I could not let my cats out until he did. I think he was a baby, as scared of me as I was of him. I went downstairs, out under the deck in the enclosure, took the broom and ran the bristles along the underneath the deck boards. It took some persuasion but he finally left. I almost wish I had let him stay there and kept the cats in the house, but I know that I did the smart thing. He looked so pathetic and lonely, almost like he had been abandoned by his mom. I know I have a vivid imagination! I was sad, the raccoon was not there this morning.

It has been a very busy week and I have not had much time to stamp. After all the people coming and going yesterday and today, I finally got to sit down and work on a card using some of the things I bought in Austin, including the lace punch I have wanted for awhile.  I used a piece of scrap paper Amy had in her stash, the giant orange rick rack that I bought and a piece of flowered rick rack that I bought before I found the scrap. It was a perfect match, amazing. This card is a Mother's Day card, which simply said, says I love you. It is another of my experimenting with Only Orange and various pinks. Another orange card for spring!

FRIEND TO FRIEND! A BEAUTIFUL, WARM, SPRING DAY IN COLORADO!

I awoke early again this morning with one of those spring headaches! I could not find my allergy pills, so I took an Advil, which only got the headache down to a dull roar. I still had to go grocery shopping, as I did not go last week before I left. I did some more wash and various other Wednesday chores, before sitting down to organize my table. I only did half of it before I started designing this card. I was able to see so many new craft items while in Austin, which has given me knew ideas. No, I did not get a chance to play with my rick rack today. Maybe tomorrow.

The card I worked on contains elements cut out using my die cuts and some punches. I used four different dies and 4 different punches to make this card. I also used a lot of designer paper as well. The paper I used in this card is from Sale-A-Bration, so unfortunately if you did not get any, it is too late. I love the way the paper all coordinates one with the other. May is scrap book month and Stampin'Up! is having a great sale on designer paper and 12" x 12" textured card stock. Be sure and check it out on my demonstrator web site, May 1. I hope you enjoy the card. A friend of mine made a comment today about how messy glitter is. I love glitter and the mess is minimal at my house( at least glitter wise).  If you do not use glitter, try it. Get containers for your glitter, work over the containers, keep the mess down and take your card to the next level.

I'M BACK!! IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY

Those of you who know me, know that I do not get up at 6:00AM, but I did this morning. Yesterday was a long day, getting up early, driving 12 hours, unloading the car, and getting as much put as possible. I was really tired, but I am so far behind. I got wash done, but not all of it. The house is a total disaster and my fridge is near empty of the basics I use all the time. I spent some time putting some stamps on eBay. I am in the process of trying to clean out the stash. I have too much. Can you relate?

I got my first sale of Daisy embellishments on Etsy, mailed today. I was really excited. I finally sat down to do a card tonight. I had about an hour and a half to work. I am yawning as I type trying to stay awake. I used some things I still had out on the table from when I left. I used a Pacific Point card base, used Kiwi Kiss card stock and designer paper, So Saffron, and Whisper White.I used my circles again and one of the designer brads. I am really intrigued with the brads. They are so much fun to use. Tomorrow, when I get a chance to sit down to stamp, I will be using some of the things I bought while I was in Round Rock. I got some really cool rick rack and ribbons, as well as a two newpunches. Amy got me a cool lazy susan craft holder. I love it! Thanks Amy! Go over to Amy's blog, she is making another doll.

ON VACATION? WEATHER ALERT IN TEXAS!

We left around AM mountain time yesterday. The wind was really bad going through New Mexico. David and I were in two vehicles because he is staying a few more days with Amy than I am. So creeping, crawling, David was putting me to sleep at the wheel. I was ready to turn around and go back home, only 30 minutes into our 11hour drive to Round Rock(north Austin) It took us 5 hours to get to Amarillo. When we stopped for gas, I told him that if he did not go the speed limit, I was leaving him behind!

We left Amarillo around PM and stopped on the Interstate 27 just past Canyon. I saw that the weather ahead looked like rain. David was hauling Amy's futon in the back of his pickup, so I stopped so he could wrap it in the tarp. We got back on the road and not 3 minutes later we ran into rain, then hail, and a tornado cloud. One driver just stopped on the road in front of me. Then started up slow, then stopped under the bridge along with all the other not so smart people. I just kept driving, because I new the hail might ruin the vehicle, but if I stopped I could be swept up in the storm. We drove in storms all yesterday. Finally 14 hours later we made it to my daughters. It rained all day here so no pictures. The link below will take you to the site with pictures of the hail on the highway. I will be back tomorrow night with something. I did go to Hobby Lobby this afternoon and had good barbecue for supper.   http://www.connectamarillo.com/weather/story.aspx?id=288295

HEY EVERYONE, TAX DAY IS OVER, GO BACK TO STAMPING!

For all of you who struggle with getting their taxes done on time, I hope you made it. I remember as a child, my father always headed for the post office late at night. He always did his own taxes. Normally, I get my taxes to the tax preparerlate or later. This year everyone talked me into doing them myself on line. So I did. Since our taxes get quite complicated, since I live a complicated life, it was a lengthy process and almost as expensive as our tax guy. But, they were e-filed, except for Oklahoma, which had to be mailed, on Tuesday.That is where I have been, doing taxes on the computer.

Today, I did a lot of things to get ready to go to my daughter, Amy's. I need a break, so my husband and I are heading to Round Rock, North Austin, tomorrow. I did get a Mother's Day card done tonight. It is not my traditional Mother's Day card, but I think it is quite awesome! Hope you enjoy it. I will be gone for a few days, but will be posting pictures instead of cards. I will be back with cards next week. Have a great weekend. For those of you in cold country, it is supposed to be snowing in Trinidad, Saturday. I will be thinking of you as I am warm in Austin.

KRISTINA WERNER COLOR INSPIRATION # 49

This weeks challenge comes over the Easter weekend. The colors this week are Black, Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red, and Whisper White. These are really pretty Easter colors, but I know you will be happy that I did not do an Easter card or and Easter bunny! If I had known it was going to snow all day, I might have been tempted to do a snow rabbit!

I started on this card last night and worked until midnight. It has transformed and changed many times. I even awoke in the night dreaming about what I could do with this card. This morning I got started on it again. Believe it or not I had more trouble with the bow and three ribbons to tie than anything else.

Stamp set used was Cheep Talk and the saying, rub-ons both Stampin'Up! I used Pacific Point card stock as my base,Basic Black and Whisper White card stock. Designer papers used were Rose Red from Raspberry Tart, Kiwi Kiss from Sale-A-Brations,  Delicate Dots, Vellum Polka Dots from Taste of Texture. The vellum dots was listed as Night of Navy, but it was a perfect match to the Pacific Point. Inks used were Basic Black, Pacific Point, and Kiwi Kiss. Ribbons used were Rose with white dots satin, American Crafts Elements, Black sheer and Black and white gingham checked, both Stampin'Up! I used the Jumbo grommets from SU and large  black grommets, rose red buttons, small black buttons, came from my stash. I used a corner rounder punch, dimensionals, glue, glue dots, and tape runner, all StampinUp!

Happy Easter to everyone. I hope you had a good day and I hope you enjoy the card. It was fun again this week. Love these colors!