Sneak Peek at June Issue of SheetLoad

Here are a few sneak peeks at my cards that will appear in the June issue of SheetLoad. There are more sneak peaks over on the SheetLoad Blog HERE. The issue goes live Monday.

First person who can tell me who the sponsor of the issue is will get a treat from me ;) Just leave a comment.

We also have some surprises for the month... surprises I can't show or talk about yet... my work table is a MESS and full of stuff... I literally have 5 posts of stuff ready and waiting... I HATE having to wait. That is the worst thing about being on a design team- waiting to show you.

I also played in 2 rounds of card tag this week (I'll say it sounded like a good idea at the time)- I thought I was in the clear because my SheetLoad submission was done. But because you only have 24 hours to complete your card, you don't have time to lament and linger. I always second guess myself and the time limit forces me to choose and go wth it.
<------ That's a sneak peak of my card for Alicia's round of card tag. I'll show you all the cards when the round is done.


My daughter and I will drive to NY later next week to celebrate the end of school and the beginning of summer by visiting my parents. I'm thinking about bringing some supplies with me in case I feel creative. 2 years ago Christmas my mom and I made cards together and had lots of fun. My mom is really good at coordinating colors and patterns (the gene skipped me altogether) so she can do that part and I can assemble. My parents also has a Hobby Lobby craft store near their house. My husband will NOT be traveling with us. And there is a Hobby Lobby. You can connect the dots to the cash register!

Bic Mark It Permanent Markers

My latest review of Bic Mark It Permanent Markers appears on Craft Critique today. Have you ever used Sharpie markers? See how they compare!

A snippet and a tip!

To the left is a small snippet of the card I made for the next round of card tag on my fellow SheetLoad team member Kim's blog. She'll reveal all the cards when everyone is done.

Speaking of SheetLoad, Alicia gave the blog a makeover and it looks great!

The newest SheetLoad design team member is Alma. She is also on the Digiments design team and they are having a challenge using some of their FREE digital stamps. Go check it out!

SheetLoad Challenge for May

Do you want to win these stamps? SheetLoad has a number of contests and giveaways for May. check them out on the SheetLoad blog HERE. The prizes are courtesy of There She Goes Stamps.






I actually got some stamping done today but you can't see it yet. I created some cards using the June SheetLoad sketch which I can't show you yet. But soon...

In other news, my husband and I are re-landscaping and had 5 cubic yards of topsoil delivered Thursday. Do you know how much dirt that is? And in the middle of all that our refrigerator decided to die- just the fridge, the freezer is ok. Since we never liked the fridge anyway, we bought a new fridge which will be delivered tomorrow.

Stamp Out Alzheimer's

The details are posted on Craft Critique HERE but essentially you make a small donation and gain access to a 1 week only stamping "playground" and win a chance to win prizes donated by generous sponsors.

Because I have lost several family members to this disease, this cause is especially important to me. Please donate and make a difference.

2 Sketches 4 You : Sketch 26

I visited a new to me sketch site called: 2 sketches 4 You. The prize for week's sketch (Laura's sketch #26) is being sponsored by Shortcuts (sister of SheetLoad). The card samples are gorgeous! And they are having a huge giveaway for their 1st anniversary- I've been to scrapbook stores with less stuff!

So- be sure to check out 2 Sketches 4 You

3 in 1 Color Tool by Joen Wolfrom

Wondering what I reviewed for Craft Critique? It was a color selection tool ;) Read my review today AND find out how you can win a free E-book from C&T Publishing. They have all sorts of books- fabric arts, knitting, quilting, paper arts and a bunch of other stuff. My fellow reports have been reviewing knitting and craft products all week.

Kim's Card Tags Revealed

Kim (Kim's Kreative Korner) recently hosted a round of card tag and this was the card that I made for it. If you want to see the other 12 cards you can go see them HERE. The reveal was especially fun because there was a wide variety of styles.


I was also nominated for a Lemonade Award for my blog from my fellow SheetLoad design team member, Nikki on her blog: Smells Like Homemade (you need to see it she has some amazing work AND she's offering some fantastic blog candy to celebrate her 100th post.

We are supposed to pass along the award to those we feel show great attitude & gratitude so here are mine:

http://ethaschuette.com/
Etha continually inspires me with her creativity and wide variety of styles and techniques

http://www.labgeekturnedartist.blogspot.com/
Lisa, like Etha is a member of the Clear Artistic Stamps Design team and I love how she experiments

http://cadnileb.blogspot.com/
Belinda is not only a talented stamper but she has great detail photos of elements of her cards (and she is a newlywed!)

http://anabaird.blogspot.com/
Ana primarily makes jewelry but also used her beaded designs as unique card embellishments- I love to see her new necklaces and earrings

What am I reviewing?

My next Craft Critique article will be published later this week ( I don't know the exact day yet). So in addition to everything else, I had to create samples and photograph them to go along with my article. Since my digital camera works better in daylight, I decided to take my pictures outside on our deck. I tried Friday, Saturday and Sunday but as soon as I stepped outside the breezes came up and would knock over or blow my stuff. Saturday, I made my 8 year old daughter stand nearby so she could catch anything that blew over. Sunday, I got so desperate that I taped my stuff to the table so it wouldn't move as I took pictures. THAT WORKED!

Normally, I don't show you my samples before my article is published but you won't be able to figure out what I reviewed from the sample. Go ahead, take a guess- if you guess right you'll get a little gift in the mail.

Sneak Peek- Card Tag Round

Above is a sneak peek at the card that I made for Kim's round of card tag. That annoying little voice started talking to me after I sent my card to Kim. The little voice said "you card isn't good enough, your card isn't elegant like the sneak peeks you have seen." Well I told the little voice to take a hike! Everyone has different styles- mine is clean and simple. If we were all supposed to make cards the same way, we would only need 2-3 stamp companies, 5 paper companies (come on- its paper!) and 2 embellishment companies. Savor the difference!

Double Sketch Saturday!

I have been scrambling all week to write my next Craft Critique article, create samples for the next issue of SheetLoad and be a wife and mother all at the same time! It was a busy week. Today the weather was very breezy which is the perfect time to go out on the back deck and try to take pictures of my artwork. After the 3rd failed attempt (and many digital pictures later) I decided to try some sketches that interested me. To challenge myself further, I decided to use the same papers (finally finished that sheet of HOTP paisley paper) and cardstock for both cards and limit myself to 30 minutes or less per card. Next time I'll be easier on myself!

The first is from CPS (Card Positioning Systems). They always have excellent sketches and their samples always make me want to play! The sketch looked simple but I fussed with my circles and I'm not 100% sure I like my final arrangement of them.

The best news is that I finally used up that sheet of HOTP paper. I loved it when I bought it so I used small pieces so it would last longer... I'm pretty sure that paper is 10 years old!

Paper: HOTP, Marco's metallic, Bazzill
Stamp: Inkadinkadoo
Other: Stickles (platinum)


This card is based on Jen del Muro's weekly sketch (Sketch For You to Try) from her blog. I really liked the sketch and haven't use done of her sketches in ages so... there I tried it. Can you tell I was REALLY trying to finish off that sheet of paper?

I used a bold flower image from Impression Obsession and after I inked the stamp with 2 colors of chalk ink it just looked boring. So to jazz it up I drew in some purple lines with pencil, used a gray marker to draw a shadow around the border and finally added some clear Stickles to the flower center. To think, it started as a nice flower image- can't tell now! LOL

The sentiment stamp is from Hero Arts. I bought it 18 months ago and I use it all the time. It is a basic font that works with lots of different styles.

A game of card tag- see the cards!

Alicia, the founder of SheetLoad, hosted a round of card tag for the SheetLoad and ShortCuts design team. Alicia made the first card and sent a picture of it to Melyssa, who made a card inspired by Alicia's and then sent her card to Lisa. When the chain is done we all get to see all the cards. It reminds me a bit of the game "Telephone". Without further ado here are the cards and I have included links to their blogs (for more eye candy!)

Here's Alicia's card:

Here's Melyssa's:

Here's Lisa ...

And then came Joy:

And then came Denise:

Here is mine:

The round moved on to Ann:

And Barbara was last (but not least):

Aren't these cards fabulous? Card tag is a really fun game! I'm so glad I played.

PS Shout out to my friend Brenda- Thanks for the bow tutorial! I cheated on my card but at least I knew how it was supposed to look!

PPS If you want to be on my new blog roll, please leave your link HERE

Happy Mother's Day

See the card snippet to the left? This week I played in a game of card tag and that is part of my card. You'll see my card and the rest of the player's cards tomorrow. Essentially player #1 makes a card and sends a digital photo of it to #2, #2 makes a card inspired by #1 and sends to #3, #3 only sees #2's card and so on. This round was for the SheetLoad design team. Very fun and done electronically so it moved fast (each player has 24 hours to make their card.)

Speaking of the Sheetload Design team, the 6 new team members were announced a few days ago. They all all very talented stampers and you'll see their work starting with the August issue. Take a peak at their work if you like HERE. Or check out my sidebar for blog links for the entire SheetLoad design team.

You were supposed to see a new card today but I was busy celebrating Mother's Day with my husband and daughter. Hope you mom's out there enjoyed your day!

I'm revising my blog roll. If you would like to be on my new and improved blog roll please leave your info on this post.

Wanna be on my blog roll? Leave a comment.

Long story short- I am updating the layout and appearance of my blog. Along with those changes, I have deleted my old blog roll and I'm starting from scratch.

Please leave me a link if you would like to be on my new blog roll!

TECC66 Sketch Challenge

This is the Taylored Expressions sketch challenge #66 for last week. I am happy with how it turned out. My original card involved a pineapple, thermal embossing, me searching for some clear EP, reinking my brown pigment ink pad and using tiny detail scissors to trim the pineapple after I colored it. After all that work, I decided I didn't want to use a pineapple! So I moved in a different direction- I went more elegant, using A Little Note set from Clear Artistic Stamps. I love the size of the main image- not too big or small to work with layers and elements on a card. I highlighted it with Stickles in the Gunmetal shade. The cardstock is Marcella for K & Co.

Grungy Birthday

Ever have one of those days when you just can't figure out how to finish your card? I started 3 cards tonight and this is the 3rd. The first 2 ended up in my UFO (Unfinished Flat Objects) pile on my table!

I haven't faux stitched or used this paper in ages so I decided to use them both. I was going for a haphazard look... not sure that was my result. Don't worry I have more cardstock and paper to make more cards ;)

Also, SheetLoad will be announcing the newest design team members very soon. I'll be sharing links to their blogs soon. Meanwhile I am working on samples for the June issue.
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It's time for our monthly "Shout Out" Challenge. Since you enjoy SheetLoad so much, help us get the word out about our little site.

In return you will be entered to win the following...



A $15 Gift Certificate to ShortCuts Online Store!
You can use your credit to purchase any of our handy products, including Gift Card Holder Folders, Clear & Frosted Card Blanks or Full Sheets, and Limited Time Buys* (*when applicable).


Here is what you have to do to be entered to win...
- Create a Blog or Message Board* Post titled "Shout Out To SheetLoad". *Please make sure this is a Public Message Board and posting about SheetLoad does not violate any TOUs.
- Your post must include a little verbiage about SheetLoad, a picture of the May Cover, and a link to the current issue (May '09). (cover image URL: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_czeHIRGxSYI/SfXzGAGvZLI/AAAAAAAACm0/4LFz6rSB-ZE/s400/May09_Cover_web.jpg)
- Once you have posted your message, come back to this post and leave your DIRECT link in the Mr Linky box below.
*Link must go directly to your "Shout Out to SheetLoad Post", not a main page. Indirect links will be disqualified.

**Please note - any indirect links, or links that go to a non-shout out post, will be deleted before the final drawing takes place.

Example of a DIRECT (correct) link: http://sheetload.blogspot.com/2009/3/ShoutOut.html

Example of an INDIRECT (incorrect) link:

http://sheetload.blogspot.com/

Rules and "the fine print"...
- Post must be up, and your link must be left here, no later than Saturday, May 30th at Midnight CST.
- Failure to link directly to the May SheetLoad issue post will result in disqualification for the prize.
- Failure to put a DIRECT link in Mr Linky will result in disqualification.
- One (1) winner will be chosen at random using http://www.random.org/.
- Open to all Domestic and International readers

Monday, Monday

I made this card last night with the last of my pre-colored cake images. My Mom gave me some neat borders and stickers from MM and by chance they matched my cakes perfectly. I love paisley. The cakes image is from Unity Stamp Company.

Also it is time for Show Us Your SheetLoad for May! The prizes this month are great. Check out the details on the SheetLoad blog HERE.

The promised card

Here is my long promised (ok 3 days ago) version of the SheetLoad sketch for May. Feel free to compare my card to the sketch. This was a very unique sketch for me and really challenged me.

I was inspired by the tag on my daughter's new shirt (thanks Grandma). I deviated from the sketch a bit by moving the corner to the opposite side and eliminating the greeting in the lower right hand corner. I also added ribbon to the top of the tag.

Aren't scrappings interesting? For this sketch the mini card or scrapling is 4.25 x 1.25. This is a neat way to use scraps (thus the name). As a member of the design team I get to see the sketches (and finished issues) ahead of time. I asked Alicia, SheetLoad publisher about scraplings and she directed me HERE. Apparently, they started over at Hero Arts.

I will be posting another card tomorrow and details for the "Show us your SheetLoad" contest for May. The prizes are great this month!

Want to win a Cuddlebug (or learn more about yours?)

ShortCuts was asked to participate in Cuttlebug Challenge Blog's "Spa Retreat Weekend" Celebration, in honor of National Scrapbooking Day!! ShortCuts is the sister of SheetLoad.




Make sure to stop by the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog this Sunday - May 3rd - for an awesome tutorial from ShortCut's DT member, Melyssa Connolly.

Here is a little sneak peek to whet your appetite...

May SheetLoad

The May issue of SheetLoad is now available! Click on the photo to see it for yourself.

This month's sketch is very unique and I am still finishing my sample for y'all. I've had a very busy week.

This month's sponsor is There She Goes Clear Stamps. They have an all new website and blog.