Sue's Scraps and Snippets

Hello, my friends. Was your week as wild and crazy as mine? I certainly hope not. Later on, I'll tell you about it when you have time to sit for a cup of coffee. For now, I have a card. I saw a version of this wonderful design on Curt's Blog, and he linked it to the youtube tutorial. It is one of those gorgeous, striking designs that looks much harder than it is. Here is my rendition for this week's combo. Check out the SPCC blog for other samples with these colors. There is also information on a nice prize that you could win if you decide to play along. I hope that you do. And I hope that you have a great week. I will have final exams this week. After they are graded, I will take a breather!

Hello friends! I am so happy that you have stopped in to see my blog. I have a couple of cards for you today. After I get through this last week of school and final exams, I hope to have more for you. Up first is the new SPCC combo for this week. Sami has a nice prize for a randomly-drawn participant, and it could be you! For this combo, I used one of my favorite stamps (I will bet you had no idea how I felt about this SP & Co. Musical Butterfly, did you?). I also used the Musical Background stamp to pretty up the butterflies cut with an amuse studios die set. I love this color combo, don't you?My other card is one of my Christmas cards. I might actually get them out before Valentines Day! I thought that I had enough cards already, but I can't find the ones I made a month ago. I guess I have learned a hard lesson about getting ahead on something. It's back to procrastinating for me. For this card, I used a Clever Level scalloped circle punch and a smaller circle punch to create the wreath. Then I glittered it up with Stickles, and added a bow. The red background has been run through my Big Shot with a CB folder. The sentiment is from SP & Co. Bold Sentiments II. I really love the font, don't you?Well, that's it for now. I need to get some papers graded and get working on finishing some of the props for the Sunday School Christmas Program next weekend. I hope that you have a good week. I know that I will try mighty hard to have a good one. Hugs to all of you.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I hope that you did, as well. And, now, it seems to be time for craziness. I have three weeks left in the semester, and then grading, grading, grading. But, I am very fortunate to have some time off after that (almost a month before the spring semester begins). Other than school, I also am in charge of Sunday school Christmas program. Not sure how I took on this responsibility other than that I am the kids Sunday school teacher. I have had about 2 or 3 of my kids show up on any given Sunday, but should end up with about 12 in the program. Well, whatever happens, at least it will be entertaining.
Amidst all of this craziness, I am really going to work hard to focus on the real meaning of Christmas. I have much to do to prepare my heart for the birth of Christ. I need to be less judging and more forgiving, and that is something I will be working on.
Now, let's set that aside for the moment and check out some cards. First, I have a Christmas card using SPCC combo 128.The snow and sentiment are from SP&Co. stamps. The paper, tree die, and sparkles are from amuse. I also scribbled on the tree with a sparkle pen, but I don't think you can see it. Check out SPCC for ideas and prize info and give these colors a try.
Other card info will be added later, after I get some grading done. Until then, I wish you all the peace and joy of the season that cannot be found in a Black Friday sale or a shopping mall.

What a wild and crazy week it was! I had so much to do and the week flew by. I am blessed to be off this week, so I am going to slow the pace a bit. I have so very much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Aside from all of the material blessings, I have an amazing family composed of folks to whom I am related by blood or by marriage, as well as those who are my family because of a bond of mutual love and caring. As if that wasn't enough, I have a sense of peace about my life and my faith in God's love for me.
Here is just a glimpse of last week. First is the new color combo for this week. Check out Sami's blog for prize info and lots of great ideas. I used a fun rosette on this card (made some of them in the card classes I have been attending - serious fun with gals who are anything but serious). I used SP & Company Round Sentiments I.The next thing to show you is a quilt that I put together late last week. Our pastor and his husband left Sunday after 11 years of ministry. As part of our efforts to honor them and send them off with a special memento of their time here, we each created a quilt square with a special message. I even stamped on some of them, which was fun. Unfortunately, we didn't have a lot of time, and not everyone created a quilt square. But the quilt came together beautifully, and I know that they will enjoy it. I haven't done much sewing lately and have missed it. I might just start doing some more stamping on quilts.The remainder of the week was filled with quizzes and tests and grading, a Thanksgiving potluck feast with my Flint Hills PFLAG family, and a trip to Wichita (100+ miles away) for a recheck with my oncologist - just good news, so it was a lovely trip. All in all, it was a good week.
I hope that all of you have a beautiful Thanksgiving. We (DH Alan, DD Bree, and me) will be spending the day with our love-created family, and I know that we will have so much fun. My DD Sarah and her husband and kids will go to his parents. Hopefully I will get to see them over Christmas break Sarah emailed my some pics of the kids today. DS Andrew and his wife and daughter will be with her family, as always. And my youngest, Alli, has chosen to stay "home" and relax in her apartment instead of coming home. I think she's afraid that I will put her to work if she comes here. It's her choice, and I hope that she has a relaxing day. I love them all so very much. And I love you, my friends, and wish you all of the best that life has to offer.

This is just a quick post with the new SPCC color combo for this week. For me, it just screamed Christmas, so I went with that. My card is very simple. I cut two triangles of Amuse polka dot paper (love this stuff) and one larger triangle of green (Bazzill, maybe, but not sure exactly what color). I stamped the SP&Co Musical Background Stamp using Versamark, and then embossed with silver EP. I popped the green tree up, and used some of SP&Co Bold Sentiments II Holiday stamps. I love the way these sentiments mix and match.
If you want to try this week's color combo, check out the SPCC blog. You might win a nice prize. Also, if you want to check out all of the SP&Co stamps, click here.
My next cards are ready to add a quick sentiment based on the occasion - very versatile. I used some of my favorite colors and my favorite stamp, SP&Co Musical Butterfly.The pictures were taken with my phone, which isn't great. I had to switch computers, and not only lost all of my bookmarks, but couldn't read my camera SD card. Aarrgggghh! Frustrating. I know that it is a minor frustration, compared to what many folks have to deal with. Take care, my friends. Have a great week, and be kind to yourself.

This is just a quick post with this week's color combo. If you didn't see my previous post, be sure to check it out - lots of fun!
This week's color combo is kind of spring/summer, which is kind of nice to think about on this cold, rainy evening. Sami has a wonderful prize for a randomly drawn winner, so try this combo and have some fun. I used a*muse studios paper, stamps, and ink for this "care about you" card. I even did a little Copic coloring.

Hello! Thank you for visiting my blog. I am in a bit of a nostalgic mood today, so I felt like sharing some posts from the past. I am starting with my favorite scrapbooking layouts from the time that I started blogging a few years ago. They are in no particular order and cover a variety of subjects from my own childhood to my cats to my grandchildren. I haven't scrapbooked in awhile. You will see that there is only one from when my children were small. That is tricky, because I haven't figured out how to scrapbook all those years without showing little boy pictures of my transgender daughter. Someday I will figure it out, but for now I just don't scrapbook. I also don't have pictures of my youngest granddaughter, except for one or two, but that's another story. As you can see, I have changed gears and try to focus on cardmaking, and trying to be a blessing to others.
The card that I have to share uses the next SPCC color combo. I made this card for a friend who had surgery (and happens to be very musical). The stamps are from SP & Company. I used another SP & Company stamp with pigment ink to create the musical background paper. I fell in love with the musical butterfly the moment that I saw it. I also like to play with alternate ways to fold cards, to make them a bit more fun for the receiver. Why don't you check out the SPCC blog and see what you can do with these colors? Sami always has a nice prize for one entrant drawn at random.
That's it for today. I am getting busier with school and other commitments. I find that by keeping busy and trying to focus on others and on service, it will be easier to get through the holidays. I have always thought that the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays were almost magical. This was true when I was growing up, and we did the best that we could to make it so when our children were growing up. It is hard now to not get together with all of our children and grandchildren, but I keep busy with church (I plan and teach the children's Sunday school - such sweetness and joy), Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG - I am the local chapter president because I can help others through my pain), and Kansas Statewide Transgender Education Project (K-STEP - I am secretary; education is the key to understanding). All of these things allow me to love what I see when I look in the mirror. I also have so many wonderful friends through church and my stamping groups - amazing what that can do! Sorry for the melancholy ranting. I hope that all of you are well and happy and taking care of yourselves.

Hi all of my friends! I hope that this post finds you well and enjoying fall. I just have a quick post for you today. Samantha has a new color combo for you over at SPCC. I hope that you will check out her blog and give this color combo a try. She always has a nice prize for a winner, chosen at random from all of the entrants. You won't want to miss out! Although the colors listed are SU, you can use any brands as long as the colors are close. I used these gorgeous colors for another Christmas card. The stamps are from SP and Company, and I colored with Prismacolor pencils and Goo Gone (you can also use OMS for blending). The polka dot CS is from A*muse Studios. I love snowmen! Although the real ones are not warm and fuzzy, the ones in pictures looks so cute and cuddly. My daughter even has some fluffy stuffed snowmen, which are adorable.
Have a good week, my friends. I posted a few cards mid-week last week, so be sure to check those out, too!

I just got some gingham CS and I love it! These cards all use green (sage, maybe?). But there are about 10 luscious colors! Now that I am not an Angel for TAC, I am a customer for lots of my friends (LOL). This CS is from a*muse, and the stamps are from a variety of sources. The gorgeous musical butterfly is from SP & Company. I think that I will use this one a lot!. The roses and leaves are from a*muse. And I made the baby card for the anticipated granddaughter of a very dear friend. This one uses a Stamp by Judith. I just love her whimsical animals. They always make me smile. I colored it with Copics for the challenge by iCopic.com. They are giving away a wonderful carrier for Copics and I would really like to have it!
Not much else new for now. I will have some more projects on Monday morning, along with a new color combo. We are getting some more seasonal (meaning cool) temps and I suspect winter will make itself known before too long. I guess that I need to get started on some Christmas cards and projects! I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend, and (as I tell my students) make wise choices!

Hello friends! I hope that you are enjoying autumn. We are having unbelievably beautiful weather here in Kansas. After a brutally hot summer, I truly appreciate the moderate temps.
Well, Sami has a new color combo over at the SPCC blog. I had some fun with these colors. I made two cards. First one uses SP & Company's Sewing Chic stamp set. I even created the background paper with Versamark and a small dressform stamp. The sentiment is a combination of part of one from Sewing Chic and one from Bold Sentiments 1. I love to mix and match. I also love to sew about as much as I love to stamp. In fact, my fabric stash easily rivals my paper and stamp stash! I need to finish a KSU quilt for my youngest daughter and make a quilt for my youngest granddaughter.
Why don't you give these colors a try? Sami has a wonderful prize for the winner (chosen at random from all of the entries).
Okay, just a side note: I am trying to type this while my cat is resting on my arms and keyboard. It is a challenge!
My second for this color combo uses a set called Save the Girls from The Angel Company. I love this versatile set. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, so I wanted to make this card. It is for my dear friend, Caren, who is a five-year survivor. What you might not know about breast cancer, is that there is nothing magic about the five-year mark (like with other cancers). Breast cancer can and does often come back any time. The best thing that you can do is educate yourself and know that early detection can save lives. This is true for so many cancers. I am a living testament to that, having gotten off "easy" this past summer because my cancer was detected early. So don't shy away from those regular check-ups, just because they are inconvenient or uncomfortable (this includes you, too, guys).
Off my soapbox, and back to my card. I colored with Prismacolors and blended with Goo Gone. So much fun! Thanks, Curt, for reminding me how much fun that was. I had some fun with the folds of this card, so have three pics to show you how it opens. As some of you know, I was a demo for TAC. About 2 months ago they closed their doors. That was tough (tougher for many than for me). I was just a hobbyist, enjoying the benefits while supporting my habit. Many of my friends made a living or enhanced their income through TAC. TAC had an amazing line of stamps and was a Kansas company. Fortunately, I still have all of the amazing friends that I made through TAC and we still get together as often as we can. Several of my friends have signed on with a*muse|studios (a|s), who have no idea what an amazing bunch of talent they have acquired!
My next card is a start for my Christmas cards. This card uses the tree from a|s Winter Stag. I love this tree. I used white pigment ink and embossed with sparkly ep. I wish you could see how sparkly and pretty this tree is! The CS is DCWV shimmery CS. Can you tell that I love sparkly, shimmery stuff?
Thanks for stopping in to visit. I hope that you found something that you liked. Enjoy your week, and take a little time for yourself!