The Winner Is...

I want to thank all of you who took the time to come and enter my first Celebration Giveaway. I made the card pictured above with each and every one of you in mind this evening while waiting for midnight. I was going to make a thank you card, however this sentiment seemed so much more fitting and comes from my heart. All of you that I have met and had the opportunity to chat with, share stories, encouragement, the link parties and challenges. I could go on and on... but because of you and all of these experiences, my creativity and enthusiasm has changed and for that I'm thankful.

You Are My Inspiration...

Three days went by way to fast, but I had a great time doing the giveaway. I had a lot of fun reading your comments and getting to know some of you a little better. I feel that new friendships were started and that's my prize for this giveaway!!

Are you ready to find out who the lucky winner is? Cross your fingers and follow the link below...

The Winner Is...

Congratulations! You will need to send me your mailing address so that I can get your package mailed off to you and on it's way home. 

To determine the winner, I used Random.org., True Random Number Generator.

Regardless of whether or not you won this giveaway, we are all winners. Look who we are... We are blessed with the gift of  creativity. You can't win that...

Thanks again to everyone who participated. If you are interested in how I made the, "You Are My Inspiration" card, I will be posting more pictures and instructions later today.

Until Next Time... Take Care!

My Favorite Song

This week's link party at Cindy Adkins blog, I Owe it All to Him, is "What is your favorite song?" This was easy for me. Even though I have a new favorite song every time I turn on the radio, there is only one song that I have loved since I was a little girl and that's Amazing Grace. 

A matter of fact I knew the moment that I entered Cindy's blog, I Owe It All To Him, that it was going to be a blog that I would be following. I instantly felt connected in some way, simply because  Amazing Grace was playing. I had previously added a video of  LeeAnn Rhymes singing Amazing Grace to the right, on my sidebar, however it was causing my blog to download very slow. So, I have included the link so that you may watch the video on YouTube. She sings it absolutely beautifully!

My grandmother's name was Grace. She's no longer with us, however, when I hear Amazing Grace it takes me back to memories of her. I made the tag pictured above for this link party today. I copied an old black and white photo of her and I onto mulberry paper and then added it to the tag.

I didn't want to add a lot of embellishments because I  wanted to leave as much of the picture exposed as I could. So I chose to simply add a few layered flowers with brads, a black bow and a small cross.

There were a few more photos that I had copied onto the mulberry paper at the same time as the one I used for the tag, so I have decided to use them along with this tag to make a scrapbook layout. I will be sure to share the pages when I have them completed.

I also want to take this opportunity to say Thank You to Cindy for hosting these fun and thought provoking link parties. I appreciate all of the hard work and dedication it takes to continue to put these together week after week. 

I am having a giveaway to celebrate the first 30 days in blogland! You can enter by following the instructions on the next post titled "Giveaway Starts Today!"

Until Next Time... Take Care!

Giveaway Starts Today!

30 Days, 95 Followers and 232 Comments ago... I published my first post, on my first blog, Scrapping With Sherry.

To Celebrate I am having a Giveaway!

When I started this journey I had no idea what I was doing or how much I would love it. I have met some awesome, talented woman and have begun to develop friendships that I did not know where possible over the internet. Blogging has prompted me to take a look at certain areas of my life that needed attention. I have found new interests and old ones have been reborn. In 30 short days I have started to reinvent myself. I am a friend and a mentor to woman who share the same passions that I do. I am a blessed and thankful child of God. I am a happier, more enthusiastic and creative artist. I contribute all of this to blogging and you... 

So lets get this celebration started by taking a peek at what one lucky winner will receive...

Would you like to see some close-ups?

I tossed around a few ideas for the giveaway. I finally decided to put together a few of my newest favorite craft items... and a few of the old.

And of course I had to throw in some truffles and a candle for those late night crafting sessions.

I hope the lucky winner likes Tim Holtz!

Getting your name entered into the drawing is easy and you can enter up to two times! 

To get your name entered once into the drawing simply tell me what the title is of your favorite craft book, the author and why it is your favorite in the comment section following this post before Monday, August 9th at midnight.

If you do not have a favorite craft book than you may list any other type of book. However please list at least one book, author and why.... Thank You! 

Want another chance to win these great prizes?   Mention Scrapping With Sherry and my giveaway with a link on your blog and tell me where to find it by leaving a seperate message in the comments section following this post before Monday, August 9th at midight. 

The winner will be determined using Random.org after midnight on August 9th. I will post the winner here on August 10th. 

A big Thank You goes out to everyone who is helping me celebrate my first 30 days in blogland... It's been an amazing experience and I can't wait to see what the next 30 days will hold! 

Good Luck to Everyone!!!

Until Next Time...Take Care!   

First Giveaway!

30 Days ago this Saturday, August 7th I published my first post here on Scrapping With Sherry. Who would have known that I was going to love it so much. Certainly not me...

So I thought... What better way to celebrate and say thank you to all the people that have supported me with comments, kind words and inspiration... became followers and friends... and have helped me when I had no idea what I was doing... then to have a giveaway.

I made the tag pictured above to decorate for the giveaway. Here's a few more views.

I embossed a die cut of a bird with distress embossing powder. This stuff is a hit with me. It not only covers well, but gives the image a great distress look and feel. A matter of fact it feels like sand paper.

I also added 3 layered flowers in coordinating colors. I added a little something extra by embellishing each one with a pearl.

I got a chance to try a new technique called, "Shabby Chic", on the first layer of the tag. After cutting a die cut tag made of grungeboard with my CriCut I painted it pitch black with a paint dabber. After the tag was good and dry I handstamped flourishes with distressed embossing ink. I then applied clear embossing powder and heat embossed it with my heat tool. Next, I covered the entire tag including the embossed images with my paint dabber using snow cap. After the paint had begun to dry, but was still tacky, I took a damp rag and wiped over the embossed designs to remove the excess paint. What do you think? I added the picture above, so that you could get a better peek at the "Shabby Chic" look.

I hope to see you back here on August 7th to help me celebrate and find out how you can win some great stuff for your craft stash. It's only for 3 days so don't be late.

Until Then... Take Care!

Whats On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 61

Julia, over at Stamping Ground, has an ongoing link party every Wednesday called, "What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday". The first time I viewed the party on Julia's site last week, I was intrigued and visited a couple of the links to see what it was about. Well, it's about just what the title says, your workdesk, or the floor if that's where you create. Here is a photo of last night's damages.

Not to bad if I do say so myself. This isn't actually my desk as I have company for a few days and have been relocated while they are here. So I created a space on the dining room table... and the buffet, and the top of the freezer, the floor and part of the kitchen cabinet. LOL!! I really don't even know how it happened. A few things here and a few things there. I keep telling my fiance, Glenn, that I need all this stuff. He doesn't get it, but I am sure you do. 

So, what is going on... Let's see. I have a couple of my business cards out as I was getting Etsy orders together and ready to be sent last night. Alot of supplies from making tags, including tags that just didn't make the cut. A matter of fact my new tag is hiding under my ribbon adhesive. 

Thanks for viewing my workdesk. Don't forget to take a peek at my newest creation, "Wandering Ghosts Tag", in the previous post.

Until Next Time... Take Care!

Wandering Ghosts Tag

When you think of the word accident it's usually not associated with anything positive. Unless you are a crafter and then some of the best techniques and looks have been an accident. Here's mine...

When I started the tag I applied a layer of picket fence crackle paint. My plan was that is would crackle and I would work black ink into the cracks and wipe the rest off. Well, I didn't apply a thick enough layer so the paint did not crackle the way it was supposed to. Instead after applying the black ink I got what I feel is the look of an old house or barn, you know the ones with the washed out untreated wood.  

You can see the background better in this closeup pictured above. You will have to let me know what it reminds you of. I really like to hear peoples different interpretations of artwork. Anyway,  I decided to go with two stamps from the Tim Holtz collection. One is the phrase above, "Not all who wander are lost", and then the image below. When I attached the tags I used staples instead of adhesive for something a little different and fun.

 

When I stamped the image of the people pictured above, I grabbed the wrong black ink and got this light black image instead of the dark black image that I wanted. Well, another accident gone right! I really liked it. It reminds me of ghosts and makes the phrase that I chose even better!

Since nothing was going the way I had planned, I didn't know how I was going to finish this tag off, but  my desire to use my new Tim Holtz rular is what prompted me to add the fasteners to the side, so I could use the hole punches. Plus it also gives me a chance to use my texture hammer and give the fasteners a new look. There was still something missing so I masked off my image and stamped a background stamp randomly around the tag with the darker black.

To finish the tag off I chose 3 different types of fibers and added them to the top of the tag. So, what do you think about my accidents? I personally love them and hope I make more!

Thanks for coming by for a visit. On your way out if you want to grab my new button you are more than welcome too. You may want to grab it as a reminder to yourself that this Saturday is exactly 30 days since my first post and I am going to celebrate it by having my first Giveaway!

Well, I am off to post my new tag, "Wandering Ghosts" in my Etsy Store.

Until Next Time... Take Care!

Birds In Waiting Tag Set

I had a Aha! moment this morning. I started an Etsy Shop, Scrapping With Sherry, not with the expectation of getting rich, I just wanted to fund my crafting a bit. I am sure some of you can relate to how much it costs to craft, especially when you are a self professed craft supply collector! Well, I have been going into this with the goal of making items that I can make a profit on. Something that can be made repeatedly with craft supplies on hand. Sounds like a descent business plan right? So, whats the problem? My creativity and inspiration have been smothered. 

This morning I decided, no more! I am going to make what I am inspired to make... I am going to go back to having fun... I am going to be me! I will list the things that I make and if they sell and I decide to or even have the stuff to make another one great. If I don't, that's OK too. Creating is such a big part of who I am that if I can't do that freely I am not complete. Maybe it isn't even in the cards for me to have My Etsy Shop, and you know what, that's OK too. 

Ready to take a look at what I was inspired to create today?

I have decided to call them "Birds in Waiting Tag Set" I decided to make each one a different  monochromatic color scheme. Besides the fibers and two of the images, everything else that I used to make this tag set are craft supplies by Tim Holtz. I am currently having a great time playing with his products. Here are a few close ups.

All three of the tags have decorated tiles attached. I just love the way you can altar these to look like anything that you want. Very fun!

Stuck a couple little blue birds on the blue monochromatic tag. I forgot to mention that the little birds are not Tim Holtz products either. They are actually made by Jolee's. I ran a swivel clasp from the top of the birdcage image and up through the fibers to give the look of the birdhouse hanging from a chain. I even finally got to use my new texture hammer, even if it was just to give a brad a few whacks!

 

This bird was hand stamped and then embossed with the distress embossing powder. Love this stuff. It adds a whole new look and feel to embossing! And what's even better is you can't overheat it... Something I tend to do with regular embossing powder. 

Tip: When you use the distress embossing powder make sure that after you apply the heat to let the powder cool off completely before you wipe off the releasing crystals. It bonds to the paper as it cools and if you don't wait the embossing powder will come off.

I hand stamped and applied the distress embossing ink to this bird image as well. All the tags have a metal embellishment attached. I love how all the trinket pins and the muse tokens have fun and inspirational words on them. The color of the green tile didn't photograph well and doesn't look like the true green color that it is.  

I also sprayed each one of the tags lightly with a coordinating color of perfect pearls and a mixture of water with my mini misters. Unfortunately the photos didn't pick up the light shimmer.  

Well, what do you think? I'm happy with the set and I had fun. I would be lying if I said I didn't care whether anyone likes my stuff or not, but if not, that's OK too...

Well I am off to list this set in my Etsy Shop. Thanks for stopping by, and thanks to everyone for all the support. Everyone has been awesome!

Until Next time... Take Care~

My Favorite Word

Cindy Adkins is having a link party at her blog, I Owe it All to Him. This week's link party is

"What is your favorite word?" I have literally known about this for a while now, but  as usual I could not decide what word I wanted to use. I can be so undecisive sometimes. It really drives me nuts! 

I finally came up with one, which is a good thing, it ends tonight! My word is Hope. Why? For one it is such a positive word. Even when times are tough, as long as I have hope, then there is inspiration to keep going. I know that things will work out. 

Just like this tag states... To have confidence. This is so true for me. When I have hope, I have a positive outlook. When I have a postive outlook, I then have confidence in the situation and myself. Hope gives you something to wish for. When you have hope... anything is possible! 

Thank you Cindy for giving me something to think about this week. Thank you for giving me hope!

I made this inspirational tag I call "Hope" for Cindy's link party. I used the different shades of brown Tim Holtz Distress Inks, the blended batik technique, various stamps, Prima flowers and MM fibers. One of the reasons I included the close up, above, is so that you could see the shimmer I added to the tag using a shimmer mist I made with water and Perfect Pearls blended in my Mini Misters.

Until Next Time... Take Care!

Trash or Treasures?

Today was Saturday and during the summer months that means garage sales!! I wish that I could say that I have always loved vintage items since I was a child, but that is just not the case. Vintage and old worn out distressed items has been an acquired taste for me, kinda like blue cheese dressing. Yes, I like blue cheese dressing... So every since then garage sales have taken on a whole new meaning.

Some of the stuff I found today would be considered vintage collectables and some of it just stuff I simply like. You be the judge... did I find some trash or treasure?

The first items I am going to exhibit are these great jars! I found them on the bottom shelf of one the garages having a sale. There was a little tag that read "Old Jars $1.50 each". I am not real up on prices of antiques but the few times that I have seen these for sale lately they have wanted alot more than $1.50. Some of you seasoned buyers and sellers will have to let me know if I got a good deal or not.

 

I seem to be partial to the ones that have the date on them. This one says July 14, 1908.

Maybe someone can tell me who made this little jar. It was with the rest of them but did not have any imprints. I just thought it was cute, and when I asked the guy about it he threw it in for free.

Now for the next exhibit. My samsonite luggage in a pretty blue. I see alot of luggage but have never seen one in blue and never in this good of condition. Had to have it!

Even had the key!

I could just picture it sitting open in my craft room full of goodies that I have gotten from dear friends on the internet and swaps... I almost forgot to tell you the price... $5.00.

I have been on the hunt for wooden shelves in good condition that I can repaint and shabby up a bit. Here is one of my finds today for $2.00. I will have to post again after I give it a make-over and let you know how it turned out.

Last and least....

Here is a blue shelf I picked up for "free". Price doesn't get any better than that! I really like the wire in the heart cutout. Going to paint and shabby this up a bit to.

Total today is $14.50.

You tell me, Trash or Treasure?

Until Next Time... Take Care!

New Look...

I am in love with my new banner! It just added so much and gave it a whole new look. Did I tell you that I love it? Yes, of course I did...  It would not have been possible without my new friend, Margaret. If you would like to see some more beauty check out her blog, "Ewenique".  I am sure you will be as impressed as I was the first time I stopped in for a visit.

Thank you so much Margaret! When I asked you for some help in creating my banner I had no idea that you would actually do it for me. It was such a surprise to come home yesterday and find this in my email. I can not thank you enough.

Until Next Time... Take Care!