Altenew Peony

Christmas is over and while it was very nice, I am now ready for warm weather and lots of sunshine and flowers.  That is not going to happen for quite awhile so I make my own flowers!  

I am having so much fun with the Altenew layered stamps and the Altenew inks.  This looks like it would take forever, but not really if you follow their layering guide.  I sent this one to a friend for her
birthday and she loved it.

Happy New Year to all of you!  It seems really strange that it is already to be 2017 when it was not that long ago we were preparing for no connections, buying up bottled water etc while we waited for 2000. 

Until next time, happy trails to you...

Sheri

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all!

This is a Penny Black die that I cut out and colored.  I do like how it came out but I have a question for you.  Is it too plain or does the sentiment belong on the front of the card.  Just a simple Merry Christmas.  It is hard to see but I used a Tim Holtz stencil behind the flower for some interest. 

Have a wonderful day with family and friends.  I hope it is the Merriest Christmas ever!  God bless you all

Sheir

Believe in the Magic of Christmas

The sentiment is  from a new Simon Says Stamp set I bought awhile back and I love it!  The tree,  snow and deer are all die cuts.  I sponged blue onto the card for sun and then used Stickles on the snow and the trees to make them glisten. 

Can you even believe Christmas is here?  This whole year flew by way too fast.  It was a busy year with lots of travel and friends. 

Until next time, happy trails to you!
Sheri

Warm Wishes

I can't believe I didn't take a picture of any of the Christmas cards I made.  Not one!  I made this one last year but it is so appropriate for today.  It is so cold here right now.  We had a wonderful long fall and I think I was hoping that it would last forever but when the bottom fell out it fell out!  We even had a bit of snow the other day.  Ok, I have experienced snow and cold so I am ready for 70 and tulips!  I am so done with winter - already!

Are you all ready for Christmas?  I think I have gotten all the shopping completed but now have to wrap to see if I have everything.  Decorating is done and we are singing carols at church.  I do love the music, the lights and the gentleness Christmas brings.  I wish it were that way year round.


Until next time, Happy trails to you...

Sheri

Let me begin with telling you I am not ready for this weather!  We had a lovely few days and now tomorrow is supposed to be colder and rain.  The dreary rainy/snowy gray days are just no fun!!  But spring is on the way - Or at least in my head. 

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I meant to get on here with a card and the time just got away from me.  So thought I would post a winter card before I start with Christmas cards.  

Until next time... happy trails to you...

Sheri

For the Bishop

So this morning my pastor emailed me and asked me to send a card to our new Bishop.  Sometimes he throws me a challenge and this one was a big one.  So I knew pretty quickly that I wanted to use my church die on it.  So that was my jumping off point and this is the end result.  I am pretty happy with it and I even surprised myself a little. 

In keeping with sending pictures of our trip, here we are going over the Niagara Falls. Didn't think we would do it, did ya?  LOL 

Until next time, happy trails to you!

Sheri

BELIEVE IN THE KINDNESS OF OTHERS

I bought this new sentiment stamp set from Simon Says Stamp and the possibilities are endless!  I teamed it up with the BeLeafMe stamp set and then stamped it all in Versamark and sprinkled gold fine detailed embossing powder over it.  Then after heat setting I used my Distress Inks and a dauber to color in the leaves.  I then fussy cut them out and attached them to the card.  Lastly I added some Pretty Pink Posh sequins to the front. 

Just finished reading Damaged by Lisa Scottoline.  Excellent if you are in search of a new book. 

Fall is finally here.  The leaves are falling fast and the temperatures are falling  It is only 51 degrees here now.  I dread winter and all it stands for.  Cooped up inside, gray skies for day and weeks on end, bone chilling temperatures, shoveling and the list goes on and on. 

Ok now that I have gotten that off of my chest I feel better.  So until next time,  Happy trails to you!

Sheri

Thinking Of You

 

The first picture is of a card I made months ago.  I was practicing my blending with distress inks at the time.  I really like how it came out.  The flowers are from a PTI set called Life.  I really like them in silhouette form.  I hope you like it.  

The second picture is another from our trip.  Love the reflection on the water.  The trees were amazing!  

Until next time, happy trails to you...

Sheri

Happy Birthday to You!

Today I have a birthday card I mad and the example was on Pinterest.  Really like the Whimsy die and the PTI big sentiment.  Not much explaining to do here.  So I will explain why I was missing in action!  Two ladies and I took a road trip.  Our first destination was Bar Harbor Maine.  We sad and did so much between here and Bar Harbor including the Von Trapp Family Lodge in Vermont, walking onto a movie set (thank goodness they were just preparing), saw lots of big waters and beautiful leaves along with covered bridges and beautiful churches.  After Bar Harbor we made a stop in Kennebunkport Maine to see George H Bush's home.  Then we headed for Niagara Falls on the American side.  We spent almost a full day there and then went into Canada.  Oh WOW!  Our room was spectacular.  I will post a picture from my window in the hotel.  They say the American side is for doing and the Canadian side is for viewing.  Then we worked our way home arriving Saturday at around 5:00.  A marvelous trip!

Until next time, happy trails to you!

Sheri

Beautiful Day

It is a beautiful day here and I had this card made up for just such an occasion.  This is from Altenew's Beautiful Day stamp set.  Aren't the leaves beautiful?  They  make some yummy stamps for sure and their inks are great!  The sentiment is from Penny Black.  Now I am going back outside to enjoy the day!

Until next time, Happy trails to you.

Sheri

Altenew Roses

This card was stamped Altenew inks and also with Altenew stamps - Vintage Roses.  Their stamps are so pretty and fun to work with.  Maybe the last roses of the year.  Fortunately with stamping we can have flowers year round!

So this past week was really busy!  I saw the movie Sully and it was excellent.  Then went with friends to the Playhouse and saw Sister Act.  It was hysterical!  And I got a new roof put on the house and garage and shed. To end the week a friend came and stamped with me on Friday.  That was a great way to end the week!   What a week it was!  But it was a good week.  My new Altenew order came on Friday so I hope to have time to play with it this week.

Until next time, happy trails to you!!

Sheri

Altenew

I have a new favorite stamp company.  Altenew.  I have used their inks for over a year, (thanks Harriet!)  So of course this is an Altenew stamp set called Vintage Flowers.  And the inks I used are their progressive inks so you simply layer them.  Easy but so pretty.  My friend Harriet was here for a week!  We had such a good time playing with our toys and making cards.  I'm hoping she will have some up on her blog as well.

Until next time, happy trails to you...

Sheri

With Sympathy

Did you think I was lost?  I have been so busy lately with the latest event being in Chicago with my grandson for the long Labor Day weekend.  When I got home Tuesday I was so tired I slept for hours!  Trying to keep up with a 16 year old is hard!!!  We walked between 10 - 13 miles each day but we saw a lot, and had a great time.  So now I am awake and finally getting a chance to post a card.  This is a Paper Trey Ink set of dahlias and is three step stamping.  I popped it up on grey cardstock and added a vellum strip with the sentiment.  I thought it was a very soothing and calm card.  I hope I don't have to use it for a very long time. 

Thank you for visiting.  I appreciate all of the comments here and in my email.  I hope you come back and visit again soon. 

Until next time, Happy trails to you...

Sheri

Bejeweled

When our stamp group was in Des Moines, We were at Outstamping Designs and I saw a card made similar to this.  Same colors but a bit different.  I had to have this stamp!  It is a Penny Black stamp called Bejeweled.  I inked it with Distress inks as did Suzanne did at Outstamping.  I think it came out so pretty.  Definately doing more of these!

I am linking this up to the newest NEBUS challenge,  as it was the first time I have used this stamp.

Until next time, happy trails to you...

Sheri

Cute puppy

Sandy Allnock had a video on coloring these Crazy Dogs by Tim Holtz.  I had just bought the stamps and hadn't had a chance to use them yet so I got out my Copics and tried one of them.  They are such cute images!  This card went to a little girl at my church who had to have surgery.  I hope she likes it!  I was going to use google eyes which would have been fun but this little girl is so young so thought it was maybe not a great idea.

I have to report that after all the heat, it is actually chilly today!  Cloudy and a few rain drops but cool.  Feels kinda good but I hate the thought of winter.  Summer goes by in a flash and winter hangs on forever!

I am entering this in the latest NEBUS challenge over at Darnell's blog :http://www.djkardkreations.com/

Until next time, happy trails to you...

Sheri

Sleeping Under the Stars

I had so much fun creating this card!  I used my Distress Inks for the night sky and some PTI dies for the rest of it other than the little guy in the sleeping bag and that was a stamp off from a friend.  I think it is from Close to My Heart.  Our sky is supposed to be active this month so I thought it was a perfect time to showcase this one.  And around here school starts this Wednesday so not many more weekday chances to sleep under the stars.

Until next time, happy trails to you!
Sheri

MAHALO

 

The word for thank you in Hawaiian is Mahalo.  So I made this thank you note and will send it out tomorrow.  I popped the flower panels up on foam the the mahalo is inset.  I used my Zig Clean Color Brush markers to color the flowers and leaves.  Finally I added a narrow strip of gold glossy cardstock to the top and bottom of the mahalo piece.  I bought only a 36 piece set of Zig Clean Color Brush markers and now I wish I had gotten them all.  I really do like coloring with them and the intensity is amazing!  But I guess I will need to purchase the others separately because I don't want duplicates!  Jeeze!  Wish I had just done the big one to start but didn't know if I would really like them or not.  

Looks like it is going to rain here any second.  That is sad because we are having a big air show today at Offutt Air Force Base.  Hopefully it will just be a quick passing shower and they can still carry on as planned.  

Until next time, happy trails to you...

Sheri

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

Do you remember singing this song in church?  We sang it every Sunday after the offering.  Now it is occasionally sung but it always takes me back to childhood.  This was a fun card to make.  First I used Color Bursts to make a sheet of paper colorful. Then I die cut the butterfly from a part of the paper.   I inked and ink blended the colors onto my card and cut the die, Praise, and dabbed color on that.  Then it was just a matter of putting it all together!

I am praising God and his blessings do flow.  We were in that horrible heat last week and before.  He has lifted the humidity and finally can go outside without it taking your breathe away.  And the flowers are absolutely beautiful this year. 

Until next time, happy trails to you!

Sheri

Dahlias

I made this card a week or so ago and wanted to share it.  I have the Dahlia Additions set from PTI and the die as well.  I  used Altenew inks - I love them as it takes the guess work out of triple stamping.  I then die cut them out and placed them on the card.  A few ink splatters and this card was done.   I really like how it turned out. 

We are in  a heat wave.  They have warnings out this afternoon to Friday night when we are to hit 100 degrees and maybe above.  Depends on who you listen to.  Time to stay in and stamp!!

I leave you with this picture I took in Hawaii.  Coconut shrimp with mango sauce and a Blue Hawaii.  So refreshing

Until next time, happy trails to you!

Sheri

Happy Anniversary Michelle and Brian

Sunday the 10th is my daughter and her husband's 16th wedding anniversary.  I made this watercolored card and it was probably beginners luck as I tried it and loved it!  We will see if I can do it again!  I used Tim Holtz Flower Garden stamps.  Then used my Zig Clean Color Clear Brush markers to color with.   It is really much prettier in person, I think.  I know I will be trying this again!

I have been on vacation!  My daughter and I went to Hawaii and just got home on Monday.  It was as beautiful as everyone says it is.  We packed a lot into our week there.  Probably should have allowed 2 more days to relax but we didn't know that at the time.  I am spending a lot of time editing pictures for my scrapbook now.  This picture is a view from our deck.

Until next time, happy trails to you...

Sheri

Class Cards

As promised, these are the cards we made in Suzanne's class at Outstamping Designs in Valley Junction in Des Moines IA.  They were all made using one sheet of Penny Black stamps.  They are all pretty self explanatory except for the last one.  We put acetate over the top of this one and added the fern and tulle to the front.  Really made for a different but very nice card. 

Until next time, happy trails to you...

Sheri

Our Group 2016

Last week was our annual gathering for my Yahoo Group.  We met online years ago and started going to Des Moines 9 years ago.   We meet for lunch the first day, then we shop at the big box store and one local stamp store in Ankeny IA.  After that we go check in to the motel and catch up, get unpacked and then go to dinner at the Machine Shed.  The next day we head to Valley Junction to Outstamping Designs.  Marj Huber is the owner and she opens early for us and stays late so we are there all day and evening!  Thank you so very much, Marj.  We can't wait to see you next summer!  We shop, we talk, we create and we learn.  We always take a class and for the last two years, Suzanne has taught us.  This year we used Penny Black stickers in our class and made 4 different cards.  They will be on my next blog post.  On the third day we start out at Outstamping Designs and work/play until early afternoon when we pack up and go to Biaggi's restaurant for lunch and then it is time to say goodby for another year.  The ladies are (top picture, back row) Vicki in the plaid shirt,  Lynette, Georgia, me, and front row, Kris. 

Until next time, happy trails to you...

Sheri

ICE CREAM WEATHER

Boy has it been hot here!  It officially didn't hit 100 degrees but here at my house with my thermometer in the shade, it was 102 degrees today and in the high 90's all week.  I had to mow the grass during this heat so I ended up doing it late afternoon when there was a very slight breeze.  I finished and went right to the showers!  Felt so good!!!   But then thought ice cream would be wonderful but there was none to be had.  Ice water had to suffice.  So I made this card to cool off! 
The background is a stencil, the stamps are from Simon Says Stamp, and the sequins are from Pretty Pink Posh.  Oh and then there is a strip of washi tape at the bottom.  Looks like we are going to be getting some rain so maybe I better dig out some rainy stamps.

Until next time, Happy trails to you...

Sheri

Flip Flops

Summer is almost here!  Our weather is heating up this week and they are saying 90's are in the forecast.  We haven't turned on the air conditioning yet but I think it is coming!  When it is that hot it is hard to do much other than "relax and unwind and get in a flip flop state of mind"!  Before we know it fall will be here again so enjoy every wonderful minute of summer and all that it brings! 

Until next time, happy trails to you!
Sheri

Bless the Lord, O My Soul

I'm finally back!  Goodness, where does the time go?  I thought I had posted last week but apparently not.  I made this for a friend a while back but never got it on my blog.  I used some beautiful sparkly paper from Michaels and the platinum embossing powder from Ranger.  It's my favorite!  And of course, the die from Memory Box. 

We are now having lots of rain and it is finally warmer.  By July we will be begging for rain!  Everything is very very green and in my neighborhood, very very loud!  We had a big hail storm pass through and they are starting to replace roofs.  I had just finished all of my planting and gotten the hanging plants hung that afternoon and by 3:30 a.m. they were all gone.  I replanted and hope they don't get damaged! 

Until next time, happy trails to you...

Sheri

Confirmation 2016

Our church had six Confirmands this year and I was asked to make cards for them.  This is what I came up with. I really like the simplicity of this card.  The leaves are made from vellum so they sort of just float on the card.  They are not glued down except under the cross.  I hope this gives you some ideas for cards of your own!

We had a horrible storm last night.  I just finished planting all of my bedding plants etc and we got hail and wind.  I think my plants are toast.  Lots of hail and wind!  It is still raining so have not been out to check on things, but it looks like a big mess outside.  It hailed so hard that my alarms went off.  And it hailed for a long time!

Also I picked up a book from the library yesterday that I had had on reserve.  It is Lisa Scottoline's newest called Most Wanted.  It gets you from page 1.  Hard to put down.  If you have read it, let me know what you thought. 

Until next time, happy trails to you...

Sheri

Happy Birthday Stephanye

My friend, Stephanye is celebrating another birthday today!  I made her this card and it arrived on time.  YIPPEE!!  I used a GinaK stamp set and papers for this one and added some google eyes and I went with sequins for the bubbles.   I hope she has had a wonderful day with family and her grandbabies. 

It has been raining her for a week now!  We had a tornado warning, we had hail, we had lots and lots of rain and I for one am ready to see some sunshine and some warm temperatures.  We had a wonderful April up to last week when it turned cold again.  We went from the 70's and sun to the 40's and clouds.  So disappointing.  I was just getting used to going to sit on the deck.  Now I am walking with my winter coat and ear muffs on.  I think later this week we are supposed to see sun again.  I for one can't wait!

Until next time, happy trails to you!!!

Sheri

BLESSED

Happy Monday Morning!  It is a beautiful Monday here.  Not a cloud in the sky and the temperature is just perfect and getting more so as the day goes on.  I made this card for some friends and neighbors who are always there for me.  I wanted to try Jennifer McGuire's idea on how to make your letters two toned the easy way.  She is right, this was so easy and I am wondering why I didn't think of it before.  The flower is from a Simon Says Stamp set and I colored it with my Copic markers.

On another note, I am reading Nicholas Sparks See Me book.  It took me a while to really get into it because several people said they didn't like it.  So, of course, I assumed I wouldn't either but I am liking it so far. 

Until next time, happy trails to you!! 

Sheri

BIRTHDAY FLOWERS

I didn't realize how long I have been away from my blog!  The weather has turned so nice and I have been outside!  I made this card for a friend for her birthday.  It is from Papertrey Ink.  I stamped it and then cut it out with the matching dies.  Then I colored it and added the flourish and the pearls and another card is finished.  I had some wood grain paper from years and years ago so put it on that.   I CASED it from my friend Silke Ledlow who makes beautiful cards.  She had sent me one very similar a while back so thought I would try one as well. 

Another dear friend of mine is Eulanda and she and her husband just built a brand new amazing home.  She has some pictures of her new craft room on her blog.  It is well worth the trip to go to see them.   In my dreams this would be mine!  But seriously I am very very happy for them.  They worked so hard to have this dream home.  Hope they have many many wonderful years in it.

I hope you are having a beautiful spring wherever you are!

Until next time, happy trails to you!!!

Sheri

Butterflies

One of the groups I am in had a challenge to use turquoise and brown on a card.  I thought and thought what I could do using no other color except for the white card base.  I came up with this butterfly card.  Love these butterflies from Technique Tuesday.   I colored them with my Copic markers and soon a card was born!

I spent a week at my daughters while they went skiing and had a great time.  Just me and the dogs.  We took really long walks daily,  I stamped and read a book.  That was it.  So relaxing.  I read Debbie Macomber's new book A Girls Guide to Moving On.  It started rather slow or maybe it was me, but then it really got good. I enjoyed it.  She is such a great writer.  Now I am back home and waiting for spring to come back.  It was here but is playing hide and seek with us.  We have had a couple of good rains so everything is green and looking like spring.  Now all we need is warm breezes and nice temperatures. 

Until next time, happy trails to you...

Sheri

BUNNIES, CHICKS, and EGGS OH MY!

I recently bought this stamp set from Taylored Expressions and was it ever fun to color!  I love it!  Anyway I made these two cards from it and on the bottom one I added some sequins from Lucy Abrams collection.  I believe this one is called Wedding Ring.  Lots of sparkle in them. 

Until next time, happy trails to you!

EASTER

Goodness, I didn't realize it had been so long since I have been here.  Seems like yesterday I was making snow cards and here it is Easter!  YEAH!  I love spring and the newness of everything.  Flowers coming up, trees budding, grass greening, temperatures just perfect and no bugs!  I have been busy making some Easter cards.  The two cards with the sunrays are ones that I sponged and then put a stencil over the top of them and stenciled the same colors over the top.  I like the tone on tone effect that gives.  It is fun to try lots of different stencils.  The church card is a CASE from Laura Bassen.  I loved it when I saw hers and had already ordered the church.  I used PTI hills on mine and a different sentiment.  This could be used for many occasions. 

I just finished reading Danielle Steel's new book Blue.  Before you groan, it was different than so many of her books in that it was less predictable.  And it was a different twist.  I really did enjoy it. One of her best, I thought.  It would make a good easy summer read. 

Until next time, happy trails to you...

Sheri

Watercolor Panels

Taylored Expressions has come out with a packet of watercolor panels for people to color.  There are several companies who are doing this now but I happen to have these.  I really love coloring them and turning them into cards.  These were colored with my Zig Clean Color Markers.  They sure make a quick card!  They will not replace my stamps and other goodies but these are great take alongs if you are sitting in a doctors office or waiting for someone or for a game to start.  They are small enough to pop into your purse and go.  Give them a try!

Until next time, happy trails to you...

Sheri

Happy Birthday Tiffany

Today is my oldest daughter's birthday.  We went out to lunch to celebrate.  I made her this card but after I colored up the bird I had no idea what to do next.  Finally came up with these fun balloons and hearts.  I like how it ended up but it was one of those week long card LOL.  Happy birthday Tiffany!  Hope you liked your card :)

Until next time, happy trails to you
Sheri

Happy Valentines Day!

I wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a happy valentines day!  It will be cold here in Nebraska but spring is just around the corner (I hope!)  The hearts on this card are all red but the camera made them look different.  I really wish I could have made them like they look.  I think they are cool!  The flourish is a very old stamp from Papertrey Ink.  And the doodling was my very own talent.  HAHA!!!! 

Until next time, happy trails to you!

Sheri