Studio Almost Done

 Hey Everybody,

Thank you for the comments on my studio. I am just about finished with putting things away. Then I'll be fine tuning things to see if how I've set it up will continue to work.  I am excited to hold classes in here this month. A big thank you to Tim for all of his love and help putting this together. Not only did he make everything wood in this room, he helped pack and unpack with me. He also did the computer set up and most of the electrical plug ins.

I was able to make two cards this evening after a full day of unpacking, crocheting and watching the Cleveland Browns Win today!  I also loved seeing Miles Garrett beat the record for the most sacks in a season. 

 Not only is Miles Garrett a great football player but he was raised by parents who believe you need to be well rounded. Miles himself says this is his job and what he does, it is not who he is.  He is a man with intelligence that does for others. He cares about the little guy. Do you know that when he was young and coming up in football, he used to eat at a diner and if he couldn't pay for his meals, the owner gave them free to him.

When that owner went to sell her diner years later, guess who bought it? Yup, Miles Garrett. He didn't turn it into a regular diner again. He opened it as a place people could get a meal free if they couldn't afford food. What does that tell you about this man?

Here is the first card which was called a napkin fold. It was part of today's Technique Challenge on Splitcoast today. You can find it here along with the directions.

This card is for the Clean and Simple challenge today. The challenge was to make something that shows what Quiet Reflection means to you. Check it out here.  This is one of my favorite stamps from Unity Stamp Company called, Gretchen Girl. Unity has some wonderful sentiments as well as stamp sets. They are perfect for my Card Ministry cards.

This card was colored with soft Copic Markers that matched the designer paper. I also used a glitter glaze on the snow. I've been adding the glaze with a palette knife but today I tried a small paintbrush and liked that better because it gave me more control.

Well, it's late so I better get to sleep. I take my granddaughter to preschool tomorrow. Then I'll go back to her house to help the new mama with things around the house, then pick Mia up from school and help her get lunch and settle into some quiet play in her room after lunch.

In that time I'm sure little Silas will wake and need to be held by someone! LOL

Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings,

Sue

We Have a Studio!

Hey Everybody,

I know I've missed a day or two because I've been busy being a grandma and I've also been putting my studio together after Tim got it ready for my craft things.

For the grandma part, I've been back and forth to my son's  house to help out. My daughter-in-law dressed Silas in the same outfit that Mia came home in. I labeled them so I'd be able to tell who was who. At that age, you'd never know.

The next picture is of Mia putting paper wrappers into a muffin tin so we could make chocolate covered nut and raisins.  When the chocolate was melted, I gave her one of her baby spoons so she could fill the cups easier. Little did I know that she'd put a dab of chocolate in the cup and move on to the next one. LOL 

We made two trays of Christmas molds with bells, trees, etc. 

I have a cabinet in the living room where I keep my placemats, yarn and Mia's games and toys.  Each time I open that cabinet I have to check before I close it to make sure Phoebe isn't in there. I've only closed her in once! LOL She loves to be 'in' things. It makes her feel safe.

This is a card for the Free 4 All challenge this week. The challenge was to make a cupcake on your  card.  This is one of my favorite old digital images that I printed then colored with Copic Markers.

The background is made with the Cast away embossing folder by dragging ink across the debossed side. I used pretty peacock and mossy meadow inks. I used a dauber to soften the white paper around the edges and on the paper around the turtle. This will go to a local nursing home to be use by residents.

My studio is almost finished being filled. Tim has cords to organize and tie up then he's done. I still have a few boxes to unload but for the most part I'm done. You can see here I still had a box of paper to put in the file drawer and some larger items that needed to be organized and given a new home in my studio.  I just have to figure out where.

I have a corner cabinet that looks very similar to the table tops that I use to store items also. That's where the flat and long things will go.

The table space closest to you is where I'll hold classes. I can't believe how many great ideas Tim had for this area. He found LED lights to place on this area so ladies would have plenty of good light to stamp and work by.

Once again, I know I am truly blessed. Tim spent a year planning and making all of the wood furniture in here. He said he's proud of the work he did and he's glad it's done. Now he can go on to other things.

I thought this would be a cute way to end this blog post. It gives me a chuckle every time I see it. 
 

Thanks for taking time to stop by today.

Blessings,

Sue

January 2026 Sampin' Up Newsletter and Calendar of Classes

 Hey Everybody,

Starting Tuesday, January 6

• New Spring Mini Catalog launches • New Online Exclusives (products you won’t find in a catalog) click link to see Online Exclusives before Jan 6th. • New Card Kits for easy, no-stress crafting • NEW Product of the Month – Just $5 with a $75 purchase

 Earn a $5 Coupon For Every $50 You Spend Jan 6 - Feb 2

• This Is In Addition To Your 10% Stampin' Rewards
• Redeem Your Coupons February 3-28

Spring Mini Catalogs are here. Let me know if you need one. They will also be available at classes this month.

Print the classes out for the year. Mark your calendar so you don't miss a class!

Classes for 2026

Monday at 10

Tuesday at 1

Thursday at 10

Friday at 7

January 12, 13, 15, 16  We will be making our calendar this month.

February 9,  10, 12, 13

March 9, 10, 12, 13

April  13, 14, 16, 17

May 11, 12, 14, 15

June  8, 9, 11, 12

July 13, 14, 16, 17

August 19, 11, 13, 14

September 14, 15, 17, 18

October 12, 13, 15, 16

November 9, 10, 12, 13

December 11, 14, 15, 17

Tim's been working on my new studio. My son helped him do part of the installation today.

The first picture shows the table where my classes will be held. There will be drawers for storing supplies below.

 The second picture shows three drawers where my desk begins. The desk is L-shaped and will hold ribbon, Copic markers and refills, as well as 6" x 6" designer series paper and current Stampin' up and Card Ministry stamps.

The last picture shows the long storage area for my scoring tool and paper cutters. Next to that will be drawers for punches.  On the last wall there will be cardstock storage and 12" x 12" designer paper storage as well as other stamping supplies.

Tomorrow the drawers will go in. There is some electrical that needs to be finished. There is a small table for the corner that needs legs added to it and my computer will be set up.

I know I'm blessed, I truly do. I told Tim that it was far more than I could have ever imagined.  He said, "You worked with a pieced-together craft room for 20 years, it's about time you had something nice."

Who am I to argue with that?

He said he's learned so much by doing these cabinets, drawers and cabinets. When he finishes this he will be making a holder for my ink pads, matching marker and refills.  Then he said he'll make another ink refill holder for my Copic Marker refills. Those will be far easier than anything he's done in the last year I can tell you that!

Thanks for stopping by today. 

Blessings,

Sue

Happy New Year 2026

  Happy New Year my friends! 

As we get ready to turn the page to a brand-new year, I just want to say how incredibly grateful I am for you. Whether you came to classes or purchased supplies from me, I consider it a privilege to be your friend and teacher.

 

I hope this new year brings you fresh inspiration, creative confidence, and plenty of time to play with stamps, ink, and paper. May your cardstock be smooth, your ink pads juicy, and your craft space filled with joy (and maybe a little giggle.

As I was going through images from today on my computer, I came across this image of a gumdrop tree. We grew up with one. It didn't stand a chance with 7 kids, LOL. My mom put spiced gumdrops on it. I love those things. I don't think I've had once since my kids moved out.

I think I owe it to myself to see if I can find some spiced gumdrops. This image brought back such sweet memories of Christmas for me. Do you have any images that bring back memories for you?

Here is the baby blanket I made for Silas Timothy. I used very soft yarn and crocheted using the moss stitch. It is a very easy stitch. You single crochet, chain one then skip a loop. It goes quickly because you don't have to count stitches like with a ripple afghan.

I got to hold Silas the day he came home. You forget how small 6 pounds is you know? I love all of the noises and faces babies make. They wiggle a lot too.

My craft room is coming along. Here you can see the upper cabinets have lighting underneath. Tim also cleaned the floor and applied something to help the floor hold up with lots of people walking on it as this will hopefully be where I'll hold classes.

Today, Tim brought up the bottom cabinets. Tomorrow my son will help Tim bring the countertops and drawers up.

   Here is the card I made for today's sketch challenge. Here's the sketch. As you can see I turned the sketch to make it horizontal instead of vertical.

I cut the stenciled paper apart after I die cut it. I layered two snowflakes on the red circle then added my image. The red circle was placed on the designer series paper with dimensionals. The designer series paper was added to a white card base. I stamped the sentiment and cut it out. It was added with a dimensional. Lastly, I added the faceted snowflakes. This will go on a patient dinner tray at a local hospital.

This is one panel from the Waffle Flower stencil set. I've never cut up and used just one image from the stenciled image panel. I'm stepping out of my comfort zone here. LOL  

I was creating on the fly. I looked at things I had in my Winter stash to add to the image. It's a good way to use up things you've made for other cards but never used.

Keywords: SC1075 Winter Cardinals snowflakes

Stamps: Waffle Flower-Postage Collage Snowy Stencil, Unity-Winter Blessings

Paper: white, SU-Traditions of Christmas designer series paper, real red

Paper Size: A2

Ink: distress inks-broken china, salty ocean, SU-real red

Accessories: SU-retired snowflakes, SU-Peaceful Greenery 3D embossing folder, Faceted Snowflakes, scissors, SU-Spotlight on Nature Die, Waffle Flower-Postage Collage Die

Techniques: dry embossing, stenciling

Waffle Flower has layered stencils that they make using the same layout but different images. It's really amazing the number of different stencils and stamps they have that go together. Here's a sample of one of the cards you'd get stenciling with the set I used for today's card. You can use it whole or cut it up and use the pieces.  When you cut between the images, it makes the images look like postage stamps.

 A friend and I were talking today about what we do with images or die cuts we've made but not used for seasonal cards. We've just filed Christmas stamps and paper away and have taken out snowmen, snowflakes and Winter things.

I told her I put my extras in a clear envelope and store them with my designer series paper that is 6" x 6".  That way when I come to that time of year again, I have extras with the paper I'll use. I don't have to remember where I put the images and cut out things, then find the paper and embellishments, etc.

How do you store your extra items?

I told my friend another way is to just give them to me and I'll put them out at classes and see if anyone would like them.  I think it's fun to get new images to work with.

Years ago I told a friend I wanted to start a business where people could rent stamps. Many people buy a set and use it a few times, then it sits in a cupboard or on a shelf. 

If you had a place where you could borrow stamps like a library, you could use the stamps for a fee then return them for something else.  Obviously that idea never went anywhere! LOL

It would be fun however to have a stamp trading day. People could bring a stamp set they want to trade for one someone else has brought. Give it some thought. Maybe we could do that sometime.

Well have a happy and safe New Year.

Blessings,

Sue

Plants, Books, Card Making and Baby

 Hey Everybody,

It was a slower day today. Tim wasn't feeling well, so he laid low today.  I worked on putting Christmas gifts away and washing clothes I received. I watered plants and gave them fertilizer. 

I finished a book by Debbie Macomber called, Mr. Miracle. I usually like Debbie Macomber books, but this one left me blah....like that was the ending? Huh.  Anyway, I'm looking for another book to read. Sometimes I like a book in my hand and sometimes I read a book on my Kindle or iPad.  Sometimes if I really don't want to wait for a book to come in, I order it for my kindle or iPad so I can read it right away.

One of my favorite Christian authors is Karen Kingsbury. She has so many books about The Baxter Family. They were fun to read. I read fiction to take me away from reality. I have a very difficult time reading non-fiction books. Sometimes I can get through a Biography or Autobiography, but that's about it.  I ordered this book, The Christmas Ring by Karen Kingsbury from the library. I can't wait to read a real book again. I just love turning pages and seeing how far I've read and how far I have to read.

Maybe it's because I had to read so much non-fiction for under grad and grad school. What's interesting is, Tim will only ready non-fiction. He dislikes fiction and can't be bothered with books that don't teach him something.  We're so different in that way.

I'm working on cards for my January classes. Here's one I might make. The first image is the card closed. 

The second image is the card pulled open to reveal both sentiments.  What do you think?  I have to add a ladybug if I'm going to use this for class.

 It was made with a new stamp set from the January mini catalog called, Hope Love & Joy.

The designer series paper I used is called Cute As A Bug. It too is in the new mini catalog coming out in January.

So far I haven't gotten the stamps or dies, just the paper and the cute lady bug embellishments.

The card that I made was from a tutorial by France Martin. It's a pull card. She made hers to pull up not to the side like I did. I think she made a Christmas card that was horizontal like mine.  I put my spin on it. She just did a sentiment that moved across the card. I liked the idea of a but moving across the card. Originally I was going to have the outside sentiment show to the left of the bug. When I went to add the sentiment on the front it easily slipped behind the image so I thought it would be a fun double reveal! What do you think?

I'll leave you with a picture of me holding my sweet, new grandson Silas Timothy. I love watching babies wriggle and listen to the sounds they make. 

I had tears in my eyes when I visited him after he was born. What an amazing miracle babies are.

Thanks for stopping by today. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have more studio pictures to show you as the work progresses.  The pieces are all made in the basement. My son will come over Thursday to help Tim bring them up the my studio.  I can't wait! Yes, I know how blessed I am. I thank him every day.

Blessings,

Sue

Day 2 And More

Hey Everybody,

It's day 2 of my craft studio rebuild and upper cabinets have been added. They have been placed so I can easily reach the top of them to display items easily. All of the items going into this room that are made from wood were made by my husband.  I still can't believe the talent he has. I am truly blessed and I know it.

The second row of cabinets is up as well. Under the cabinets on the right will be a counter with lower cabinets. Under the other set of cabinets will be my desk. The desk will be 'L'-shaped.

You may also notice the white squares above the wainscoting. Those are outlets. There are 12 places for cords on each one. Crazy huh?   

They also have USB ports for charging things as well. This guy has thought of everything!

Here's the builder of the cabinets and my studio.  My sweet husband. Grandkids call him Papa. He held Silas Timothy tonight for the first time. There's nothing like holding a new baby. Sometimes it brings me to tears to think that God sent this child to this family for a reason. He is a precious child of God. 

Just like I said when 3 year old Mia was born, I will do what I can to show Godly qualities and teach her God's ways. Something I've been privileged to be a part of is bedtime prayers.  Sometimes Mia prays with me and sometimes she asks me to pray for things. 

Tonight we prayed for safe travel home for Papa and me. Then she asked me to pray that there won't be ants in my house. She explained that at church someone dropped food and there were ants eating it in the Sunday school room.  So, I prayed that there wouldn't be ants in our house and hers!

It made me smile then laugh, but that's the mind and life of a three-year old.  You never know what is on a child's mind do you? Here's a picture of Mia holding Silas with Dad's help.

She's been so wonderful with her new brother. I'm sure there's a struggle going on with having to share mama and dada. Growing pains it's called. Everyone has to get used to the new normal.  The day Silas came home Mia asked her mama if he was going to be there the next day.  When you think of it, it's a great question. She's never had a sibling so was this baby staying here or going somewhere else tomorrow.  I'm sure there will be days that she'll be happy to share this little brother with others since he'll be getting into her things and annoying her. Those days are far off right now, so we'll just concentrate on making her feel loved and special too.

Check out this card. It's a winter card made with a technique called Bargello. You pick 3-4 different designer papers then cut them into strips and layer them. Then you cut the strips and layer them on cardstock in some sort of pattern.

The designer paper I used was from Hobby Lobby. It was 50% off before Christmas so I got some to use for my Card Ministry. The stamp set I used it from Unity Stamps. It is called Winter Blessings.

Winter Blessings by Unity Stamp Company.

 

Here is a video to show you how to do the bargello technique. It is from Splitcoaststampers website.

Well, if you've made it to the end here, thank you. I truly appreciate your visits. I hope to get back to making videos when my studio is finished.

Blessings,

Sue

And So It Begins

 Hey Everybody,

Well, it's finally happening. We've emptied my craft room so Tim can take apart the old furniture. The desk was purchased for me for work years and years ago. When I retired, I began to use it in my craft room. We moved it from my office upstairs to the former dining room. We only used the dining room for holidays so we decided my craft room would be a better use of the space.

I was thrilled with that since my craft room had been in the basement. The basement at the time was unfinished and cold.

Today Tim took this cupboard and desk apart. He also removed the lights and fan and put a new one up that is better suited for crafting.

This next picture is my family room. We have 4 tables set up with boxes on top. I emptied my cabinets and drawers and they were placed in this room.  It's a bit frustrating right now because I don't know where everything is. It's just going to have to be that way for now.

I've set up some things on my kitchen table so I can work on small projects. New Year's Eve my son is coming over to help my husband move the furniture he's made from the basement to my craft room.  I can't wait!

Tim's been working on this for a year now. I've watched every piece of furniture come together. It's getting more exciting with every piece he finishes. 

In the midst of all of this, my son's wife has had their second child. His name is Silas Timothy. So we've been busy running back and forth to my son's house to watch their 3 year old. It's been a busy time for all of us.

Well, thanks for stopping by. God's blessings to you.

Blessings,

Sue

Mixed Media With Water Color and Alcohol Markers

 Hey Everybody,

When is the last time you used watercolor pencils to color images? That's what I used to color the background of this card. I wanted a simple background that didn't distract too much from the cute images.    This card was for a Mix-ability challenge where you need to use more than one medium on your card. I used watercolor pencils and Copic markers.

Stamps: Colorado Craft Company-Wishing Happiness

Paper Size: white, black

Ink: memento tuxedo black, gorgeous grape

Accessories: Prismacolor watercolored pencils, water brush, Copic Markers, Colorado craft company Wishing Happiness dies

Techniques: Water coloring, coloring

I colored the background using the side of my watercolor pencils and went from warm colors at the bottom to cool colors at the top. Then I used my water brush over the watercolor pencil colors. I stamped, and colored my images with Copic Markers. I used the dies to cut out the images. I added dimensionals behind the images and stacked them together from bottom to top. I added paint splatters on the animals with watercolor pencils. Then I stamped the sentiment. This will go on a dinner tray at a local hospital.

This is the stamp set I used to make this card. I like the cute characters and some of the sentiments.  For my hospital ministry cards, I need cards that are encouragement, thinking of you, anything but Get Well.  There are many people who make get well, cards for the hospital. The hospital also wanted cards for people who won't get well, and are in the hospital. They may have a terminal illness, but are in for procedures that may lengthen their life or make them feel more comfortable.  

Anyway, I like to use cute animals and characters to let them know someone out here is thinking of them enough to make sure they have a card to lift their spirits while they are in the hospital. Sometimes being in the hospital can be so lonely and upsetting for people. 

Colorado Craft Company-Wishing Happiness

What types of stamps are you drawn to?  I'd be interested to hear.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Blessings,

Sue

Unity Snowman

 Hey Everybody,

Sabrina's challenge is light entertainment. It can be found here. 
I thought of this stamp when I saw the challenge. It tickled me to see the snowman enjoying a hot cup of coffee or cocoa then telling us to stay warm and fee cozy.

I stamped the image with memento tuxedo black ink then colored with Copic Markers. I cut around the image and added designer paper then cardstock to make the image strong enough to move on a wobbler. I used white craft ink direct to paper on the snowflake embossed paper. I stamped the sentiment and rounded the corners. I rounded the corners on the other layers as well.
This will go on a patient dinner tray at a local hospital.

Stamps: Unity Stamps-Snowman to Go

Paper: white, night of navy, balmy blue, Frozen designer paper

Ink: memento tuxedo black, balmy blue, white craft ink

Accessories: Copic Markers, Wobbler, Brutus Monroe-Fallen Snow glitter glaze, scissors, Darice-snowflake embossing folder, Crafter's Companion corner rounder

Techniques: direct to paper, coloring

This stamp came from Unity Stamp Company. I got another one that I just love because of the sentiment. The snowman is darling too. That little waving penguin is so stinkin' cute! I've made a couple of these and had fun coloring them. I'll post them soon.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas.

Blessings,

Sue