No Time To Stamp?

Gatefolds  — Today’s challenge deals with how we fold our card — we are going to do Gatefold cards today.  Fun for a change!  Gatefolds are cards that fold in from each side, meeting in the middle, so it opens like a gate.  The folds don’t have to be symmetrical, your opening can be off center if you like.  Check out all the DT samples for some great ideas with this fun fold!!!

Keyword ssnotime109 - There is no time limit. You can play this challenge and upload your project at Splitcoast and/or your Blog, anytime at all. You (and that means anyone and everyone, blogger or not!) can play as many times as you like!!! The point is to keep it simple, quick and have fun!!! Please link back here.

Check out the great samples for the Stamp Simply Challenge today on the blogs of these fabulous designers:

• Amy, October Guest Designer
• Janine   
• Julie 
• AJ
• Tammy 
• Deb
• Barbara
• Jenny
• Barb Schram (Barb is kindly filling in for a bit as Jennifer Buck takes some much needed time off — enjoy your break, Jennifer — we’ll miss you!)

Please bear with us all as we each upload and link on Thursday night.  Everyone should be up and set by Friday morning.

You may see all SCS Gallery Submissions here.

And here’s my Gatefold creation for today:

A Christmas card simply made using a Winter Cotton Scrap, a Vintage Envelope Sentiment from Flower Soft, 100% Silk Ribbon (Burgundy), a die cut corner and pretty SU paper, Autumn Traditions  (a fall pack, but I love a few of the prints in it for Christmas).  My gatefold opening is off center and you can scroll down to get measurements for cutting and scoring this fold.

I’m trying to capture the glitz here.  My Cotton Scrap is sewn onto Soft Suede SU cardstock which I distressed afer sewing, using my scissor blades.  I like to sew in this meandering fashion because then you don’t have to be so careful that’s it pefect, and that’s good!  Santa’s hair and beard where dazzled up by drawing lines with my Quickie Glue Pen and sprinkling on SU Dazzling Diamonds.  SOOOO pretty IRL.  The envelope is a fun cutout from a pack called Vintage Envelope Sentiments by Flower Soft — PERFECT for that finishing touch!

Here’s the inside.  I adhered Very Vanilla cardstock, used a Cuttlebug die cut corner inside to match the one on the front, and stamped my inside sentiment with one of the centers from Christmas Treasures by JustRite, used on a 3 1/4″ Wood Stamper.  And can you see on the Cotton Scrap panel how I adhered a piece of cardstock to the back to cover up all my stitching lines and give the inside a cleaned up look?  It also served well in this instance as I could sandwich my ribbon between the layers.  This is the only place where the ribbon is attached to the card.  It merely wraps around the card and you tie your bow on the side.  The recipient then has to open the bow to open the card — FUN!!!  I think so anyway.  It gives a bit of a *present* feel to your card.

My paper is cut to a standard 1/2 sheet - -5.5 x 8.5″.  I used my Scor-It Mini to score my fold lines.  I scored 1 3/4″ from one edge and 2.5″ from the other edge.  Once folded it gives me the standard A2 size of 5 1/2 x 4 1/4″.

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Shopping:

Flower Soft carries the Vintage Envelope Sentiments as well as their full line of product.

The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store carries the following items to create this project:

• Christmas Treasures Set on the 3 1/4″ Round Stamper by JustRite

• VersaFine Vintage Sepia Ink

• Scor-It Mini

• Burgundy 100% Silk Ribbon by May Arts

• Winter Cotton Scraps by Crafty Secrets

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So glad you were able to stop in again today — wishing you all a wonderful weekend ahead, and hope you can try a Gatefold card if you are so inclined.  They’re fun!  See you soon!

First a little talkin’, then on to a simple project.  I’ve been receiving an unusual number of emails lately from people telling me they didn’t know I had the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store buried here in my blog — LOL!!!  Well, I do!  It’s a simple little store you access by clicking the tabs above my blog header.  The emails continue with  the two most asked questions of — where’s the button to click to buy? — when will you have a *real* internet store?  I don’t talk about the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store a whole lot here, other than to link to product I carry, as the main purpose of this blog has been, and always will be, to show you projects with the hope of inspiring you and, on occasion, teaching you a little thing or two — I’m just a low-key kind of gal, I guess. But I will do a little explaining now in answer to the above questions.

Why is there a Stamp Simply Ribbon Store? Well, truthfully, I love to sell things — LOL!!!  Pure and simple.  I have never worked in sales per se in the real world, but have always felt a strong desire to share and help in the realm of my stamping world.  I absolutely love what I do here — creating, sharing, talking with you all and on occasion actually meeting some of you IRL.  The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store actually started with about 10 or 12 striped ribbons this past March.  I loved them, I had a lot, so thought I’d see if any of you wanted some, too.  Well, you did!  They sold out immediately, so I got some more, and some more, and some more — LOL!!!  And I’m still getting more!!!  So those were the beginnings of my simple little store. 

Where’s the button to click to buy?  There is none!  Again, my store is small, simple and low key.  Just browse, write your list, and email it to me.  I then send you a PayPal invoice, which gives you a button to click to pay.  Or you can send a check.  Very simple.  Nothing fancy.

When will you have a *real* internet store?  Well, likely never (course, I’ve learned long ago to never say *never*).  But for now — It’s Just Me, My Blog, and I.  It’s not broken, so why fix it?  I like it this way.  I like the communication with my customers.  When customers email me their orders, some like to chit chat a bit, and that’s fun!  Some are down to business, and that’s just fine, too!  It all works, so for now I’m not trying to fix it!

And one last comment I get a lot is — I didn’t know you had so much:  Well, I’m glad if anyone thinks I have a lot, but I don’t, really.  All I have is contained on the 3 tabs above my blog header.  But I will tell you one thing about what I have – I HAVE it in my store because it is product I use on a regular basis, it is product that I love, and it is product that has been proven tried and true, by me, time and time again.  I will ONLY list for sale what I use, what I love, and what I know to be a good value. I do design work for a few companies and I’m proud and pleased to be able to offer you the full line of products by both JustRite and Scor-It, both of whom I design for.  The full line of JustRite is not shown in my store at this point, but more is coming regularly and I can get anything for you in 2-3 days time, so it’s not a problem.  I also am so proud to carry products by Crafty Secrets, and I think anyone whose been to my blog before knows how much I love the Cotton Scraps and Journal Notes, and there’s more Crafty Secrets coming soon, too!!!  And I routinely add in other tools and supplies that to me are essentials!  And, of course, the May Arts ribbons that grace just about every project I do — could NOT live without them.  And I do add different types of ribbons regularly — just can’t control myself there!!!

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Anyway, enough about that — now, let’s move on to my project for today – just a simple  and quick Christmas card because, at least for me, I need a lot of cards at Christmas, and simple is the ONLY way to go — so my Journal Notes to the rescue, once again. They have 32 pages of images in themed booklets, so that equates to a lot of easy projects!

Darling vintage girls that just begged for a pop of color today!  My Velvet Zig Zag Ribbon and colorful buttons do the trick!  Buttons are sewn onto the panel with Jute String (easy, just place your button, punch holes with a piercer and use a large-eyed needle with the Jute String — sews on in seconds with the holes pre-punched).  My Make it Merry and Bright sentiment was perfect here today.  To make it quick I punched the center with my 1 1/4″ SU punch, and the frame is Nestie cut. I used VersaFine Vintage Sepia Ink.   The sentiment is from one of the new JustRite Christmas releases, A Merry Little Christmas:

Here’s the full set for you to see — it has 10 centers and 10 borders, giving you a ton of variety and options.  It fits the 1 5/8″ stamper, which is the original stamper so many of you have with your monogram kits.  Or you can purchase a stamper separately if you don’t have one.  And the good news is, I have this set available for purchase right now, with immediate shipment — no waiting!  You can see it on this page, just scroll down a bit.  I have more coming for Christmas real soon, so check back in often.

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Stamps:  A Merry Little Christmas by JustRite, used on the 1 5/8″ Stamper

Paper:  White and Basic Grey Wassail DP

Ink:  Versa Fine Vintage Sepia (Sentiment), ColorBox Chalk Creamy Brown (DTP edges)

Accessories:  Christmas Journal Note Pads by Crafty Secrets, Velvet Zig Zag Ribbon and Jute String by May Arts, Buttons, Petite Circle Nestabilities by Spellbinders and from SU:  1 1/4″ Circle Punch, Corner Rounder, Piercer and Mat Pack

Shopping:

The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store carries the following items to make this card:

• A Merry Little Christmas Stamp Set and Wooden 1 5/8″ Block

• VersaFine Vintage Sepia Ink

• Christmas Journal Note Pad

• Velvet Zig Zag Ribbon

• Jute String

• Buttons by Basic Grey

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Now, I must say I honestly feel like we’ve rushed into Christmas and I haven’t had much of a chance to work on Autumn and Halloween projects — so those are what will be coming next — hope to see you back soon!  Thanks much, everyone!!!  Wishing you a great summer day!!!

I can just hear my Dad singing that old song!  And that’s exactly what I thought of and heard in my head the entire time I was making this cheerful and sunny yellow card.  I wanted to make this card tonight because I just got some new colors of silk ribbon and I loved this soft and buttery golden yellow color.  I immediately thought of this sunflower image on my Cotton Scraps, and away I went:

Isn’t it just so sunny and cheerful?  I love it!  The image is intentionally off to the left a bit to provide more room for the generous bow done in the 100% Silk Ribbon.  A very simply done card, so similar to many I do.

Can you see the Flower Soft I used on the center of the Sunflower?  I used Nut Brown and it adds so much texture IRL - wish you could see it!  Also a closer look at my ribbon/bow.  It’s a double looped bow made on the Bow Easy.

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Stamps:  Bird on a Branch by SU

Paper:  SU So Saffron, Night of Navy, So Saffron Prints DP

Ink:  Versa Fine Onyx Black

Accessories:  Flower Soft, Flower Soft Glue,  Cotton Scraps, Silk Ribbon, Bow Easy, Pinking Shears, Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue, Glue Glider, Foam Mounting Tape

Shopping:

Flower Soft for the Nut Brown and Flower Soft Glue I’ve used today and all other Flower Soft Products

Stamp Simply Ribbon Store for the Silk Ribbon (I added 6 new colors), the Cotton Scraps (this one is from Flowers),  the Bow Easy and the Versa Fine Onyx Black Ink

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Editing to Add, with Authors Permission:  To read a heartfelt and touching story of the Sonshine of God’s Love, please read Comment #3 below in the Comment section.

I’m so glad you stopped in today — I truly appreciate it when you do!  I’ll be busy the next couple days getting a few posts ready for this week and adding some fun new things to the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.  I’ve added a Page 3 (above my blog header) where I’ll include a few of my most favorite stamping supplies and some other fun things!  I  also have plans to put kits there and other fun seasonal items.  So though I  am just working on it now, plan to check there from time to time to see what is new and what is changing.  Items on Page 3 will change much more frequently than on the other pages.  Anyway, thanks so much for stopping in!  Truly appreciate it!

Today I have a Buttons and Bows card for a baby boy!  And even with buttons and bows it does look boyish enough — for a newborn anyway!   The card is quite simple, using a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the background and machine stitching on the focal image.

I made this for our newest great-nephew, Eli Andrew, who came into the world on July 1.  We hope to see him this weekend!  The image is from the Baby Boy Cotton Scraps, cut with Fiskars Pinking Sheers, matted onto cardstock which is stitched at the sewing machine.  The Taupe Silk Ribbon is a good match to the SU Close to Cocoa cardstock and the bow is made with the Bow Easy.

A fun and quick way to prepare a focal image panel at the sewing machine.  It is elevated on foam mounting tape.  The button is threaded with Ivory Jute String.

Stamps:  None

Paper:  SU Soft Sky, Close to Cocoa; PTI Vintage Cream

Ink:  ColorBox Chalk Creamy Brown

Accessories:  Baby Boy Cotton Scraps, 1.25″ and 1/4″ Silk Taupe Ribbon, Bow Easy, Ivory String, Cuttlebug and Embossing Folder, Pinking Shears, Button, Sewing Machine and Thread, Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue, Mounting Tape, Glue Glider (from Joan’s Garden).

Shopping:  The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store has the Cotton Scraps, Pinking Shears, Silk Ribbon, String and Bow Easy.

I’m so glad you stopped in again today!  Next up is our Stamp Simply Challenge for the week, and this week proves to be a fun one, so please do try to  check back in late Thursday night or Friday if you can!!! Thanks much — and have a GREAT day!

… and new found friends from afar and fun and games on top of it all! I was thrilled when a few weeks back I received an invitation to play with some very talented girls *across the pond* in the United Kingdom.  As a result I’ve run across some blogs that are new to me and seen some awesome creations that I’d like to share with all of you today.

The Next Level is relatively new.  Each week they put forth a challenge, their talented DT creates projects, and the public is invited to play.  Sponsors are also involved each week, which means a chance for the participants to win some wonderful merchandise.  This week’s theme is *Buttons and Bows*.  I was invited to play along with their DT this week and all of you are also invited to play and link your creations.  Of those playing,  multiple winners will be drawn for prizes!  How fun! Click here to see the prize offerings this week.  Click here to get to the challenge page of The Next Level and read the details and see all the cards created by the DT with links to their blogs.  Be sure to click into their blogs to get all the fun details on their projects!

Here is my Buttons and Bows creation:

What’s more appropriate for a Buttons and Bows creation that a Sweet Baby Girl card!  I made this card quite simply by using many little pretties – Cotton Scraps (Baby Girl) for the focal image, cut with Fiskars Pinking Shears and stitched onto a pink mat which was then distressed.  My background is done with the Cuttlebug and an embossing folder, my ribbon is 1.25″ wide May Arts Pink Silk, the bow being made on the Bow Easy, and my little buttons are from Wal-Mart, the larger one being tied with 100% Jute String by May Arts.  And that’s about it — just a matter of putting a few pretty things together — my FAVORITE way to make a card!!!

Stamps and Ink:  None

Paper:  PTI Vintage Cream, SU Pink Pirouette

Accessories:  Cotton Scraps Baby Girl, 1.25″ and 1/4″ Pink Silk Ribbon, Ivory Jute String, Bow Easy,Fiskars Pinking Shears and Scor-It, all from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store; Buttons and Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue from Wal-Mart; Glue Glider from Joan’s Garden; Cuttlebug and Swiss Dots Embossing Folder; SU Corner Rounder; Sewing Machine and Thread; Scissor Blades to distress.

Thanks so much for stopping in today.  I hope you take the time to check out The Next Level Buttons and Bows Blog Challenge for this week and play along if you have the time.  Playing and linking your creation will enter you in the drawing for prizes, and what could be more fun!!! 

Thanks all — see you real soon!

I am so excited with what I have to share with you today! I think it’s a given that everyone loves a beautiful bow, but many of us struggle making them. Well, we will struggle no more!!! Thanks to my friend, Jenny Gropp, I was turned on to the Bow-Easy. Jenny has been using this little bow-making template for a long time and for those familiar with her work, you will instantly recognize her beautiful little bows in the sample boards below. I just got in my order of the Bow-Easy templates and I’m so happy to be able to share them with you all. They are NOW listed in the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store(located at the tab above my blog header). They are on Page 2 Tools.

Here’s a card with a bow made using the Bow-Easy, and it WAS so easy!!! I am just jumping for joy! It’s the same double 1.25″ wide silk bow that I made on yesterday’s Dirty Laundry card. But I think I cut my tails a bit differently, giving it a slightly different look:

Just another simple card to put together, making use of my beloved Cotton Scraps. Today I cut them with my brand new dressmaker pinking shears by Fiskars and adhered to the Soft Sky base with my Glue Glider (my FAV adhesive for card making). A few buttons on top (sewn on with the May Arts String), my beautiful silk bow using 1.25″ Silk Ribbon by May Arts and a simple sentiment finish it off. Maybe it’s hard to see, but I used a black Kaiser pearl for my birds eye. Even on the Cotton Scraps, adding an eye to a bird just brings him to life. I know I keep saying this, but that one little detail makes SUCH a diff in the image!!! OK, now on to the bow:

My bow was made using the Bow-Easy. When making bows on the Bow-Easy, they are always independent bows that need to be attached to your project. Think how fun it would be to sit and watch TV some night and make up a ton of gorgeous bows, all ready and set to go for when you need them - now THAT’S an idea!!! LOL!!! As you can see, I’ve been wrapping my ribbon around my card and just tying it into a tight knot. I’m using the May Arts Silk Ribbon (1.25″ wide) and it is SUCH a thin and light weight ribbon thatit works beautifully in this application. I then just attach my bow with some Zots (glue dots). (I’ve been told of another adhesive product that is supposed to be super-duper for adhering on bows. I have some on order and if it turns out to be as good as reported, I’ll be sure to let you know what it is and where to get it — this may take a couple weeks yet, but I’ll be sure to share once I can try it out myself)!!!

OK, so what’s the Bow-Easy? Here it is:

The Bow-Easy is a heavy plastic template with 7 leg configurations that allows us to make bows in 7 sizes ranging from 3/4 to 2 3/4, using a variety of ribbon widths. And we can easily do a standard single bow, double bows, triple bows, etc. with no extra effort. And both ribbon tails ALWAYS end up on the back side of the bow!!! The Bow-Easy is available on Page 2 Tools of the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.

And I’d like to share with you the creations of some great designers who are also totally hooked on the Bow Easy:

Jenny Gropp who got us all hooked! She’s offering BLOG CANDY TODAY!!!

Jerri Kay Jimenez — her work just DEMANDS these beautiful, dainty bows. Here is Jerri’s creation for today in a style ONLY Jerri can do!

Joan Fricker, who fell in LOVE with the ease of the Bow-Easy — what a gorgeous creation she made to share with us today! I’m ga-ga over all that purple!!!

Below aresome sample boards that Jenny so kindly made up for me to share with all of you. As you can see, you can do bows with single loops, double loops, triple loops, etc. Instructions come with each Bow-Easy and I will also provide you with a photo tutorial on using the Bow Easy. It is SO easy once you do it just once. You will be amazed!!! Now let’s check out Jenny’s beautiful sample boards:

These were all made with 3/8″ wide ribbon. You can see both single loops and double loops on the bows. And they are all so neat and perfect!!!

Here we have a variety of ribbon widths and weights. Again there aretriple, double and single loops. Personally, I am swooning over the luscious double bluebow on the bottom!

And here are more of Jenny’s beautiful samples of bows made on the Bow-Easy — double loops, triple loops, more loops than I can count, pearls and cording added — WOW!!! The options are endless!!! I am just so excited at the thought of easily creating these bows with my new Bow-Easy.

To see more samples in use on cards, I’d like to share these lovely creations with you:

Jerri Kay used the Bow-Easy on this unbelievable creation, Happy Easter.

Jenny’s blogis overflowing with creations using the Bow-Easy, but here are just a few for you to check out now, and then you can hop on over to her blog for more eye candy:

Crazy Quilt, Happy Holidays, Naughty or Nice, Wild Spring Sprinkle

Hope you enjoyed the Bow-Easy creations we all put together for you today! If you haven’t yet, make sure to check out all the links — some GREAT ideas! Bow-making has NEVER been easier!!! Available here.

Oh, and I almost forgot — how does a Bow-Easy Blog Candy offering sound?Jenny Gropp is sharing today, so make sure you stop in to sign up!!!

Thanks much for stopping in here again, everyone — truly appreciate it!!! Many thanks!!!

Stamps: Glamour Girls by Crafty Secrets

Paper: PTI Vintage Cream, SU Soft Sky

Ink: ColorBox Chalk Creamy Brown, Versa Fine Vintage Sepia

Accessories: Bow-Easy, Cotton Scraps (Flowers) by Crafty Secrets, Wide Silk Ribbon and String by May Arts, Wal-Mart Buttons, Kaiser Pearls and Rhinestones, SU Corner Rounder and Large Oval Punch, Zots , Glue Glider, Fiskars Pinking Shears.

Shopping:

The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store carries the Bow-Easy, May Arts Silk Ribbon and String, Crafty Secrets Cotton Scraps, Fiskars Pinking Shears.

Joans Garden carries Glamour Girls by Crafty Secrets, Glue Glider, Kaiser Pearls and Rhinestones.

Truly — No Time To Stamp! But I “needed” to make something tonight, and I did it without much stamping at all — again relying on my Cotton Scraps and a few pretty things. Here it is:

Another quick card, and it seems that’s all I’m doing lately! My Cotton Scrap is from Feathered Friends, one of your favorites, and to aid in speed, I merely cut it out with dressmaker pinking shears. I left the paper backing on to give it more body. After my silk was wrapped around the script panel, I adhered my Cotton Scrap with a heavy double sided tape. Again, my Taupe Silk is wrapped around the panel, attached on the back. I then took another length of Taupe Silk, ran it under the band and tied my bow. Such an easy way to get a pretty bow that ends up being straight.

Go back up and check out my cute button! It’s just an old button from my box, but I just got some new strings in 9 colors and have added them to the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store. I love them. Last week 2 of you asked me on the same day about strings for buttons, so I knew I had to get them, and I love them. They are so easy to thread though the button holes and tie off. This is just a neutral color, but I can’t wait to try the pink!!! Once I was getting strings, I got some cords as well — in 7 colors — those will be fun, too, on masculine themed or natural type cards. They are in the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store as well.

Stamps: Bird Lovers by Crafty Secrets and retired SU French Script

Paper: PTI Vintage Cream, SU Soft Sky (retired)

Ink: SU Creamy Caramel, ColorBox Chalk Creamy Brown, Versa Fine Vintage Sepia

Accessories: Feathered Friends Cotton Scraps, Silk Ribbon and Jute String from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store, Labels 4 Nestabilities by Spellbinders, Vintage Button, Pinking Shears, SU Corner Rounder, SU Dimensionals, Glue Glider

Shopping:

The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store carries the Cotton Scraps, Silk Ribbon and String.

Joan’s Gardencarries the Nestabilities, Crafty Secrets Stamps, and Glue Glider.

JustRite has some Blog Candy to offer today over on their blog. Be sure to stop in and read about the reason they arecelebrating!

Thanks so much for stopping in again today. Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve had a card. I hope to get back on a better track!Tomorrow brings our Stamp Simply Challenge for theweek, and it promises to be a fun and happy one! Hope you stop back in to play, and if you can’t play, hope you can come to see what everyone did!!! Hope your week has been good, your weather has been nice and that you can have a relaxing weekend to look forward to! Thanks much — see you soon!!!

The winning number picked by random.org for the Blog Candy offered here is #116, who is Jean. Congrats! Jean!!! Here’s what Jean had to say:

“Sharon, oh, where to begin..first of all I ALWAYS love your work. I think the lilac card is fabulous, along with the other cards you made with the cotton scraps. I too am a ribbon lover and would love to buy one of everything you have. When I am near a ribbon counter, I am like a child looking in a candy store window.Anyway to get back to your original request, I could not pick just one color scrap so I will tell you the ones I really love.flowers, winter, and feathered friends. Once again Sharon, thanks so much so sharing your fantastic work. Happy Day! Jean”

Well, Jean, you’ll have some Silk Ribbon and some Cotton Scraps to play with real soon!!! And thank you to everyone else who played along!

And FYI, the most favored Cotton Scraps were Flowers, Feathered Friends and Winter as the three top picks. The rest all got pretty much equal billing, but these 3 were undoubtedly the top preferences!!!

Another FYI, most of you are missing out on another Blog Candy I have offered — but you had to read to find it — I always love a good game — LOL!!! That one is up on Thursday night. It’ll be announced in the Stamp Simply Challenge post!!! Good luck!!!

One last FYI — I actually got a card made tonight, after like 6 nights — boy, has it been busy around here –it’sposted above, or click here — thanks much!!!

…Blog Candy. Cotton Scraps by Crafty Secrets and Silk Ribbon by May Arts are a wonderful combo, but when we add the Candy, they all could be yours!!! Let me explain why I’m celebrating with this Blog Candy offering. Many of you know that I’ve been selling May Arts ribbon at the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store (real creative name, huh?), which is located on the TAB above my blog header. It’s just a simple little store with some ribbon that I love and use daily. I got so many questions always on my ribbon and bows, I just thought you might like some of what I use, so that’s how that got started. Well, my store will remain primarily ribbon, but from time to time I will be adding a few things that go well with my beloved ribbons, and right at the top of that list are the Cotton Scraps by Crafty Secrets. I have just added them to The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store where you may see them all. You’ll have to scroll all the way to the bottom, but they’re worth the scrolling!!! And here’s my Blog Candy offering today:

The winner will receive one sheet of Cotton Scraps (Flowers), along with the card I made about a week ago using the Lilac image from this sheet (card details here), and 10 yards of 1.25″ wide 100% Silk Ribbon by May Arts. You’ll get 2 yards each of the 5 colors shown in the photo (Violet, Lavender, Pink, Celery, Yellow). To enter all you have to do is leave a comment, telling me which of the Cotton Scraps (seen here, scroll down) is your favorite. Then come back HERE to comment. That’s it. A winner will be selected by a random number generator on Wednesday night (4/29)at about 10 p.m.EST. Good luck and have a great week! I’ll be back soon with a new card to show you!

If you’d like to see more samples of cards I’ve done with Cotton Scraps, just click here.

P.S. — Playing around withmy Blog Header — gosh, I had no clue it was so easy to change it — fun!!! Now you might see it changing all the time — LOL!!!

On the surface this card may not look like a quick card, but it was! My beautiful lilac image is a Cotton Scrap by Crafty Secrets andthe lovely, rich Violet Silk Ribbon is one of five new deep and rich colors I’ve stocked in the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store, and with the addition of a few embellishments, I called it done! Here it is:

The stamping was minimal — only the retired SU French Script background. I most often sew my Cotton Scraps, but today I really did want a faster card (what’s new - LOL!), so rather than doing any machine sewing I opted to cut out my lilac image with dressmaker pinking shears and mounted it onto the eggplant cardstock. MyViolet Silk is a perfect match to SU’s Elegant Eggplant, one of my long-time favorite colors — very rich! I used a Spellbinders die to cut my top flourish, added Kaiser Pearls, a couple buttons and a corsage pin with beads. Lots of pretty embellishments, but all quick and easy — truly a no-fuss card, and I really love it! I chose to leave this with no sentiment. This is a good type of card to keep on hand for any variety of occasions. When I need it, then I can add an appropriate sentiment either on a small hanging tag or on the inside.

Stamps: SU retired French Script

Paper: PTI Vintage Cream, SU Elegant Eggplant

Ink: SU Creamy Caramel

Accessories: 1.25″ May Arts Silk Ribbon from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store, Cotton Scraps (Flowers) by Crafty Secrets, Flourish Accent dies by Spellbinders, Corsage Pin and Beads from Michaels, Buttons from Wal-Mart, Dressmaker Pinking Shears, Zots, Kaiser Rhinestones, Glue Glider. (Spellbinders, Rhinestones and Glue Glider from Joan’s Garden)

Thanks so much for stopping in to visit today. For those of you who read though my last post and have been praying for and/or asking about my Dad, things went well on our Doctor visit. No new problems were discovered (that was the fear), and it’s just a matter of managing the old problems, so that was VERY GOOD news!!! Praise the Lord and THANK YOU all for your prayers and kind words. Much appreciated!!! And now we are predicted to have snow for the next few days — can you believe!!! Oh my — I guess we just wait and see if it really comes — LOL!!! Nothing else we can do!!! Hope you are all off to a good week and that youwill have nice spring weather — enjoy it for all of us here in the northwoods!!! See you soon!!!