Does counting sheep work when you want to fall asleep?  Is that what happens when people have insomnia? There is nothing worse than laying in bed and you know that you have to get up in a few hours.

What do the experts say?  Well, there is no evidence that counting the sheep will help people fall asleep faster.  What it can do though, is keep you from falling asleep. Maybe the best thing to do if you can’t sleep, is get up and make cards.

Read to the end of the blog post for a valuable tip.

Counting Sheep Card Recipe

Stamp Set: Counting Sheep.

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Basic Gray, White Craft Stampin’ Ink, Stampin’ Blends: Smoky Slate Duo.

Paper: Smoky Slate, Basic White, Basic Gray, Early Espresso, Basic Black

Accessories: Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine, Painted Texture 3D Emboss Folder, Sheep Dies, Playful Alphabet, Black Dots, Black 3/8″ Glittered Organdy Ribbon.

The Counting Sheep stamp set and the Sheep dies are in the Sale-a-Bration brochure.  You can earn the counting sheep stamp by ordering $60 worth of product and the dies  by purchasing $60 worth of product. SAB starts August 3, 2021.

Cutting Measurements

• Smoky Slate (card base) – 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ score at 4-1/4″ and burnish with bone folder for a crisp fold, scrap for sentiment.
• Basic Grey – 4″ x 5-1/4″.
• Basic White: 6″ x 2-1/2″ . 4″ x 5-1/4″ for inside panel.
• Early Espresso:  Scrap for fence.
• Organdy Ribbon: 2 pieces at 4-3/4″.

How to Create the Card

• Ink the Painted Texture 3D Emboss Folder with the craft White ink.  Insert the Basic Grey cardstock into the the Emboss Folder and run through the Stampin’ Emboss machine. Set aside. TIP: apply the craft ink to the side of the folder with the Stampin’ Up! words printed on it.
• Attach the 2 pieces of ribbon across the top of the Smoky Slate panel and anchor on the back of the panel with double sided Tear & Tape adhesive.  Adhere the panel to the card base.
• Stamp the sheep on Basic white cs with Tuxedo Black ink. Die cut with the sheep dies.  Colour the sheep  faces and legs with the Smoky Slate Stampin’ Blends. Add the color around the body where the darker lines are.  Die cut the sheep.
• Die cut the fence from Early Espresso cardstock.
• Stamp the sentiment in Basic Black and die cut with the scalloped die.  Attach over the ribbons with dimensionals.
• Attach 3 Black Dots below the sentiment.
• Die cut 1, 2 and 3 from Basic Black cardstock .  Arrange the sheep and fence on the card front and when pleased with the arrangement, attach the fence with adhesive and the sheep with dimensionals.
• Adhere the numbers to the sheep.
• Stamp or write a message on the inside panel. Add an image if you wish.

Now, pick up your card, admire it and send it off. Someone you know may be wondering “does counting sheep work?”

Designer Series Paper Sale

The Designer Series Paper is coming to an end soon…August 2, 2021.  Each package of paper is 15% off the regular price. There are no limits to how much you can purchase.  Stampin’ Up’s papers are incredible in their colors and weight.  Each paper is double sided so you have the choice as to which side to use. The sale also includes the “In Good Taste” paper pack.  You have the choice of 12 different designs –

Want to earn the stamp & dies? SHOP WITH ME

TIP: Do you ever have an “oops”?  I sometimes get a smudge on the card from ink.  THis time it was the back of the card and to cover it up, I stamped an image.  If you have an ‘oops”, try to come up with a way to cover it up and  share it in a comment below. Or, if you don’t have a way to cover up an ‘oops’,  you can share another tip.