BEATE'S WEEKEND SKETCH CHALLENGE - 51

Good Sunday morning everyone! I had some time to stamp yesterday - whoohoo! I love when my afternoon is open with the kids busy doing their thing and Tony is occupied (helping FIL out) because then I don't feel so guilty hiding out in my scrap room - LOL! So, I made doing Beate's weekend sketch challenge a priority because I ADORE Beate and her fabulous sketches! You know, I have to say a few things here: I have only been stamping for a little over a year now and it is people like Beate who have made me love and enjoy this craft as much as I do! I remember when I first started out as a demo, and I would see something on her blog that I liked but had questions about - I could email her and she would answer me back with great tips and advice. And, she does wonderful tutorials - for FREE!!!! She epitomizes the Heart of Stampin' Up! by sharing her fantastic talent and creativity with all of use through both her blog and through SCS. In fact, I joined the Fan Club because of her! Why am I telling you all this? Well, because every now and then ugliness reaches into our sublime stamping world and interrupts what we love and so I wanted to remind us of some of the reasons we do what we do! And, people like Beate have made it that much better! So, off my soapbox and onto the card! I used my Mr. Crabby pants for this one (stamp set is actually called Crab and Company!) because he makes me smile, and I wanted to smile today! I popped up the crab claws and the starfish, then added a little bit of dazzling diamonds to both. And, I added some tiny googlie eyes (yes, I know they aren't SU! but they are soooo stinkin' cute!) I actually flipped Beate's sketch - I know she won't mind, she is the one who told me a sketch is just a great place to start! :-) I did this so I could put my scallops across the bottom, which I made with my slit punch. Isn't he a happy dude?? I just love this set, and will never tire of it! I hope he sticks around in the catty for a little while longer.....so anyway, I will leave you with the recipe and this thought: The kindest word in all the world is the unkind word, unsaid. ~Author Unknown
Card Recipe:
Paper - Kraft card stock, Ruby Red card stock, Bashful Blue card stock, Naturals Ivory card stock, Cutie Pie Designer Series Paper
Stamp Set - Crab and Company
Inks - Black Stazon, Ruby Red Classic Stampin' Pad, Ruby Red and Creamy Caramel Stampin' Write markers
Accessories - Dazzling Diamonds, Two-Way glue, googlies eyes (non-SU!), Mat Stack and Paper Piercer, Small Tag Punch, Jumbo Pewter eyelet, Old Olive narrow grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Slit Punch