Simple Sympathy

What is it about sympathy cards that makes it hard to come up with something that is thoughtful but not too overdone? Is it because grief is complicated enough without adding too much to it?

Well, recently a friend of mine lost her husband and I wanted to get something out to her ASAP, so I came up with this. It's a little softer looking in person because the "shadow" of the flowers is a soft blue and the gray brings down the harshness of the black.... but still conveys the sympathy theme.

ALSO, this is where YOU come in - I'd love to have people send cards to her from all over to help ease her grief because her world is completely upside down right now. She and her husband just purchased a bowling alley last year and have put all they have into it, and her husband was the one who ran it full time. She has no children, so her husband was her entire world for more than 25 years. My heart just goes out to her.... So if anyone is interested in assisting by sending a card her way, please email me and I'll send you her address. Thanks so much.

Here's the card I made:

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

Set: Heartfelt Sympathy
Colors: Basic Black, Going Gray, Bashful Blue
Other: white grosgrain

Attention Brown-Haired, blonde wannabes!!

Yep, that was me - I tried it again, against my better judgement. I wanted to believe the box that said it could make even black hair blonde. Well, thank goodness I have a sense of humor, and a sense of responsibility to share the results with you so that you don't make the same mistake! lol


Okay, so I'm blessed with strong hair that can withstand processing over and over in one day, or I'd be a pumpkin head and miserable. SO, here's the result of my "blonding" process - and please ignore that I have no makeup on.... the hair is bad enough. And it was a bit brighter in person, so laugh if you must:

So then I decided to go to plan B instead, which was a dark brown. This was the result, which I think is WAY better:

SO, the lesson learned: if I ever decide to go blonde once and for all, I am going to a professional with some SERIOUSLY POWERFUL CHEMICALS to get the orange out of my hair!

That's my public service announcement for today. I hope you got a good laugh out of it - I know I did!

Later gaters~

Stinkin' Halloween

I love Halloween, and I love making Halloween cards, even if I don't really send many of them, if any! I just had to play with this theme a bit and try to come up with a way to surprise you. I hope I did it this time.

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

Sets: Stinkin' Cute, Everyday Flexible Phrases, Petals & Paisley (for "happy"), and All Wrapped Up Accessories
Colors: Only Orange, Summer Sun, Black

Fun fun fun, and even his eyes are orange and black! Hope you like it.

Masculine Birthday

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

Stamp Sets: Carte Postale, It's Your Birthday
Colors: Chocolate Chip, Blue Bayou, River Rock
Other: gold eyelets, Aztec Gold PearlEx, Versamark

Another Crabby Birthday

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

I actually had a birthday to make this for, so despite the fact that I've featured this stamp set several times now, I deided to share another one I came up with here... this one is for my nephew.

Set: Crab & Company

Colors: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, River Rock, (Purely pomegranite Groovy Guava ink only)

Other: Swirl emb folder (Cuttlebug), blender pen

Happy Monday!

Gettin' back slowly

Hi again - it's been a busy summer, hasn't it? Time flew by and I haven't had any stamping time in a while. SO, today since I have two birthdays to cover in the next day or two, it was as good a time as any to get back into the swing of things.

I found out two things - #1, I'm still not in full swing yet, and #2, I'm a little RUSTY! So, bear with me as things get back to how they were.

My daughter started school this week, so that will allow me to get back into stamping a bit, I believe. We'll see!

Here's one card I came up with today:

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

Stamp Sets: Artfully Asian, It's Your Birthday
Colors: Chocolate Chip, Purely Pomegranite, confetti cream
Other: flower punch trio, rhinestone brad (fire collection)

I hope you like it....I'll post the other one tomorrow!

Stinkin Cute really Stinks!

Okay, so it's not "STINKY" as in bad, but "SMELLY" as in fruity goodness!! Yep, I tried that smell-it technique after promising myself for the last 4 years I would... and how fun it was!

Here's the resulting card - and though the negative image is a bit sloppy, I am chalking it up to using Kool-Aid powder which gets everywhere and telling everyone that if the skunk can't stink, it's gotta be a little messy! lol


images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

Set: Stinkin' Cute
Colors: Purely Pomegranite, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky
Other: heat&Stick powder, real Red craft pad, Fruit Punch flavored Kool Aid, red staple, dimensionals, glue dots

I hope you like it, and I'm sorry I was gone for so long, but I'm back now!! Woo hoo!

SO SORRY ladies!!

Hi everyone - I promise I'm not dead - I have had an extremely busy week or so, and haven't had time to stamp or even get on the computer! That is SUPER rare for me, so don't worry, it won't be a habit. However, I am not going to be online for another several days... it's nothing serious, just planning a few days off that will keep me away from the pc, and I promised my family my time, so I gotta keep my word.

As for all of you, I would love to know how you all are, so if you want to post a comment letting me know you're still visiting despite my absence, or offering suggestions on something I can do for my come-back project, or tell me about what's crazy in your life, I'll feel a whole lot better - plus I'll have something to come home to!

Have a great week, I'll catch you either this weekend or next week for sure!

Until then - CIAO!

Fun Farm Tiles

Yep, I have always loved this set, and though it's retired, this is a project always worth making cuz the set is still cute!

I made mine using the same method I always use - stamp images in StazOn ink, color in with Stampin' Pastels (chalks), rub in with finger (I still plan on trying blender pens someday), then spraying ever-so-lightly with acrylic sealer. Four felt self-adhesive dots on each corner and the coaster is ready to go!

I have a TON of stuff to do today, so if I can squeak in some stamping, it will be a miracle, but we'll see....

later gaters~