Firecracker Designs by Pamela Blog Hop PLUS CANDY!!!!!

  Hello and welcome to the Firecracker Designs by Pamela Blog Hop for November.  Our theme this month is Thanks- so I made some 3-D items to give to those that affect my life in a positive way- as a token of my Thanks for their presence in my life!
  First, a little bit of information about the blog hop. This is a circular Blog hop- when you arrive back where you began the hop-you are all done. 
  Next, CANDY, yes, LOTS of CANDY is available on this Blog Tour- on each blog you visit, leave a comment and you have a chance to win CANDY (each blog will award one stamp set)!  And, it's the good kind that does not end up on your hips......  Pamela will also be have CANDY for an overall winner!  Thanks for your generosity Pamela!  Wahoo!
  All you have to do to win is to leave a comment.  It's that simple! Oh- each Blog candy has a different candy to give as well.

  Blog Candy will be awarded at 8PM on Monday November 23rd CST on my blog. (Remember we may be in different time zones).

Here is the set I am giving away!

These are my 'Thankgiving' items for Friends and people who are significant to me:

 I have been having fun paper crafting this past week.  I originally had a different project in mind, but then came across this awesome Tag Box on a blog- with the dimensions.  I just had to give it a try.  I really liked it, so it became the new direction for my Blog Hop project. 

 

Here it is open- I added the blue scallop out of a coordinating paper, and used Christmas Phrases 1 by FCD for the sentiment . I added some bling on the top of the Tag Box.  The tags are made with the Matchbox Die from SU and the Tag Punch by SU. The Tags inside are stamped with various FCD sets- on the Lt- gloves from Love Never Melts, the center- Christmas Phrases 1, and on the Rt, snowflakes from Love Never Melts and Let's Celebrate- all from FCD.

 

 Next, I decided to make some Tag Boxes. They are made with base card stock cut 2 3/4 wide by 7 inches long.  The CS was scored 2 1/2 inches from each edge. I made side pieces that are 2 5/8 and tapered to fit the side- on the top 1 3/8" wide and the bottom 2 inches wide.  I used red line tape to attach the side and the tags to the front and back.  The tags measure 2 3/4 " wide by 4 5/8" long.  You can change any of the measurements to make your tag box it's own size.

Box on the Lt: Basic Grey Figgy Pudding,Scallop punch SU +acetate

Middle box- label from Matchbox Die by SU, sentiment Christmas Phrases 1 by FCD

Box on the Right-Nestability Labels 4 (3rd smallest), Sentiment Christmas Phrases 1 +acetate, scallop edge punch SU for Dp on top and bottom and bling.

 

 Next, I decided to take a hinged box and make a gift box.  This is so quick and easy.  I embossed the snowflakes from Love Never Melts and Let's Celebrate with White EP and sponged on Soft Sky and Blue Bayou onto labels from Avery- the address label size. The labels are wrapped around Hershey nuggets.  The sentiment is from Christmas Phrases 1.

The CS wrapping the box (retired SU Baroque Burgandy)was cut to fit and punched with the scallop edge punch by SU.  The Basic Grey paper, again Figgy Pudding,  was added and the sentiment mounted on Soft Sky. White organdy ribbon added around the box like you would wrap ribbon around a gift box- hard to see in the picture.

 

 Finally, I finished my stamping fun with tags made that fit into a box made out of a piece of DT.  The link for the box that fits ATC sized tags or ATC's was found here.

 

I had to add some techniques from the Technique Junkies Newsletter to my project.

The tag to the far left- ink Ranger- Trees from Just Breathe Again, Sentiment-Christmas Phrases 1 and technique Simple Green

The 2nd to the Lt tag (blue) is made with the Faux Sanding Technique. The snowflakes (FCD as above) are embossed with White EP, and the image colored with SU markers and Angel Wings Shimmerz (from FCD). Can you see the little mouse on the tag too? Sentiment  and snowman from Snow Shepherd from FCD.

Tag #3 The ornaments from Christmas Phrases 1 stamped in Black Memento Tuxedo Ink and colored with Su markers.  Each ornament covered with Crystal effects. Tag top punched with the SU scallop edge punch and outlined with Faux Stitching Technique (TJ). The faus stitching and the strings the ornaments are on are done with a Sakura jelly Roll Pen.

Finally, the last tag is DSP on the top, the SU Poinsettia embossing folder from SU- the flowers were individually cut out and painted with Shimmerz after centers colored with Baroque Burg (SU). The Tag is outlined with a Gold Leafing pen and the sentiment from Christmas Phrases 1 is embossed with Gold EP.

Whew- are you exhausted from reading all of that?  Thanks for hanging in there!

The next stop on the blog hop is Tesa

Please don't forget to leave an e-mail address so I can contact you if you win the Blog candy. Good Luck!

And, I will be posting another card at the end of this blog hop (Monday night)  with another blog candy- please stop back to check it out!

  

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Prismacolor Poinsettia

This is a quick and easy card made using Prismacolor and Gamsol I made when I took a basic class-as mentioned in my Give Thanks card last Friday.  I do not know who makes this image.  The center has gold elements by Barbra Trombley's . I outlined the edge of the card stock with the image and the red behind it with a gold leafing pen.

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Featured Stamper "Dawn, aka Treasure Oiler"

   Each Sunday, there is a challenge on SCS where there is a chosen Stamper- you find a card in their gallery, and change 3 things on the card.  This week the Featured Stamper is Dawn .
   I had some fun today using a digital image that is brand new over at Firecracker Designs by Pamela .

Pamela has just released an awesome set of stamps for Christmas called Christmas Phrases 1. My desire this Christmas is to make Christmas Cards with a Religious Theme or Christian message, so was thrilled to see this set released (Thanks Pamela!).  With the phrases combined with the new Digi of the Bust of Baby Jesus, I went to work today.  Here is what I came up with:

For this card, I printed the Digital image from FCD blog posting, and printed it out on Stampin Up Whisper White and Georgia Pacific CS, plus, I printed out a page of images on Vellum (from Marco's Paper).   I printed out a couple of different sizes by opening up a Microsoft Word program, and I saved each program so the file is set and ready to go if I want to make more cards with them.  This image is watercolored with SU colors and an Aquapainter.  The Nestability cut out is the largest size in the Labels Four- so to add dimention, I outlined it with the Silver Leafing Pen. The side panel is reinker smoosh from the Technique Junkies newsletter.

 

For the next card, I cut out a smaller digi image (same download, just resized smaller) with a Labels Two Nestability. The BG has the square stamp made with all words stamped repeatedly with Versamark on the bashful Blue (SU) CS, and on the Reinker smoosh panel, I embossed with Silver EP.  I like this one better, but my husband does not like that there is no sentiment in black......so I made another card......

  Well, I accidentally stamped the sentiment in the wrong spot to start off with.....So, to avoid wasting CS, I flipped the card, and adjusted.....  The Technique panel again was stamped repeatedly with Versamark and embossed with Silver EP. I sponged around the edge with Bashful Blue.  The main image has been printed on Vellum and is colored in from behind with SU markers.   I had a small area that was empty at the bottom, so I added the clear Dew Drops with Crystal Effects.

These cards are quick and easy to make- I will be making more of them. This is the same digital image- printed in different sizes and on different papers- including vellum. That is one of the things I enjoy about digital images- they are inexpensive and versatile. 


Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Bloggers Challenge Happy Fall Ya'll

  This week I took a beginners class with  Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol at The Cottage Stamper in St Charles, Illinois. It is not a huge store, but there is ALOT of great stuff packed into their space.

   I have had a set of the pencils for 10-12 years, and they have been dusted off finally!  This is my fall card we created in the class with a stamp by Northwoods.

  A couple of things I love- the leaves of the sunflower are outlined with a glue pen called Quicky Glue by Sakura and glitter sprinkled on.  I love this look- and I have a lot of glitter to use.  In the centers of the flowers, we applied glue and then used Barbara Trombley's Elements- this is a great earthy look- I love it IRL.  There is some applied to the wheat stalks as well.
  I am starting to work my way through the book  Masterful Color Vibrant Colored Pencil Paintings Layer by Layer by Arlene Steinberg. The first exercise I am going to work on is taking Prismacolor Pencils and make my own color wheel.  Once I do that, I am going to figure out a chart (like my Copic chart) by color for the Prismacolor pencils- I have not found one yet, so may have to create one.  It will help me in the long run to learn which pencils will look good together as well.
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoy a wonderful fall day!
Shelly

Sunday Featured Stamper at Splitcoaststampers:Scene Silhouette and Saturday Spotlight for Hidden Potential

 The Featured Stamper at Splitcoaststampers is Christine M., aka Chrisations.ink! 
This is a link to the SCS Featured Stamper Challenge

  The Sunday Featured Stamper Challenge is to pick a card and change three things. This is the card that inspired me: Something Lavender 
  My first idea was to make a Christmas Card.  I stamped the trees 5 times first in Old Olive then in Versamark, and then in Always Artichoke and Versamark.  I clear Embossed the entire group of the trees.      



   Next, for the sky, I brayered on some Bashful Blue- oops- there was some green on the brayer (or in the blue ink- hope not), so the sky looked kinda like a tornado was on its way.  Night of Navy to the rescue- I am using Stamping Up ink colors if you are wondering. I brayered lightly the Bashful Blue again to highlight the moon.
   I sponged the navy ink around the edges of the card, and added just a touch below the tree bases for a little highlight. 
  Next, I added Irridescent Ice EP after I colored Versamark on the branches and the card base with the Versamark Pen.  I did this twice and I made a mess- lots of glitter all over the kitchen!
  I decided instead of just adding a sentiment, as was my initial thought, to add in the snow Shepherd Mom and Child and use the sentiment Seeking His Light.  I like to try to make my Christmas Cards with a Religous tone if at all possible.  Don't you love Mom's facial expression?  Feeling the warmth of Jesus shining on her face- he's the reason for the season afterall!


The stamps I used are from Firecracker Designs by Pamela- the Snow Shepherd set and Just Breathe Again for the trees.
Cardstock by Stampin Up


This also meets the Challenge at Saturday Spotlight with Hidden Potential- use a stamp repeatedly- as in my trees- on your card. 


Thanks for stopping by! Hope you are having a wonderful Sunday!
Shelly

ASC4 Aly's Sketch Challenge

 A Sketch Challenge by a 10 year old- she has her own blog for the challenge- too cute, huh?

So, I had to play along- here is the sketch:

I found an image of a cute penguin from an image swap I was in last year- so I have no clue where it is from. 

I colored the image with Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol. I added flower soft to the white parts of the hat, the beard and the sleeve cuffs. 

The BG was put through the Cuttlebug and highlighted with Bravo Burgandy.

The flower is colored with bravo Burg and the stamp on it is Peace by Firecracker Designs by Pamela- there is a Dew Drop in the center of the flower..

So, here goes- my interpretation of the sketch:

Thanks for stopping by!

If you want to join in, here is the link to Aly's Blog
Shelly

Bloggers Challenge- Pick a Technique- Reflection

In all of the years that I have been stamping and creating cards, I have never made a reflection card!  I greatly admire them, but for some reason, have not given it a try yet.  Some of the directions tell you to use a brayer, some waxed paper, some go into great lengths about lining up your image, some use a Mirror Image stamp (I have one- have only tried using it once..) ..... Well, I came across a tutorial for doing the reflection technique that is so easy, I am not sure why I have never given this a try before!  The link is HERE.  I have never heard of using acetate before for a reflection image- but it is fast and easy- I used Tuxedo Memento ink, and I could see right through the acetate- so the reflection went directly where I wanted it to go!  Now, this stamp has a bit of detail in it, and you can see that it transferred beautifully- this stamp is Riley Raccoon from FCD.

 Coloring it, I ran into trouble finding the 'right' colors.  I tried my Copics- but I did not have the right color to finish the sky.  While I was experimenting with colors, I found a great post on Prismacolor Pencils on Splitcoaststampers.com that is mentioned in the previous post on the Featured Stamper card.  I found some recommendations for using Prismacolor pencils-I could not help get out my pencils and give it a go. Here are the colors I used:
Raccoon- 1018- wait that is pink!  I used the Complimentary color uncoloring technique- it really does look better than the raccoon images I colored without it.....  and the GREYS: 1051, 1052, 1054 and 1056 (over the pink color- really!).
Grasses: 988, 911 and 908.  Mushrooms: 940, 942, 1034  and the log: 945, 946, 947, 948.  And, I used Black to highlight Riley's mask and darker highlights around his head and face.
I added a touch of color with the Aquapainter -Creamy Carmel and Close to Cocoa at the base of the log, then used the small grass and larger grass stamp from the FCD set called Just Breathe (again)  I added grass with Old Olive- I added the first layer, then Aquapainted over it so it looked natural- to get rid of the white spaces, then once that was dry, added another layer of stamped grasses.
  Ok, next I added a wash with the Aquapainter in Bashful Blue ink to the base of the card. I used a stamp from the Just Breathe stamp set that gives the ripples in the water with Bashful Blue.  I added another layer of color wash to deepen the color.
  For the sky, I punched out a scalloped oval, and used the blue ink with the Aquapainter and colored around the edge of the scallop.  I went over the lines with the Aquabrush to soften the lines.
  Finally, I decided to use the layout from Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge 253- I have not been able to do the Sketch Challenge in a while and like the way it looks with this sketch. I stamped the water waves image from Just Breath (again) again.... in blue on the background papers and on the edge triangles. I stamped the REFLECT image from the stamp set Thinking of You .  
  I added Dew Drops in the bottom Lt corner to balance the card.  Finally, I added a little bit of white gel pen by Sakura to the ripples in the water- I like the look I achieved.
CS used all SU- Sahara Sand, Choc Chip, Brocade Blue and White.
**Remember for Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol- use a coated paper like SU Whisper White- you want the color to move on the surface and blend- not to be absorbed into the paper (like Georgia Pacific or papers good for Copic markers)

I hope you enjoyed my Reflection Technique for the day- and, thanks for stopping by! Click on the link on my sidebar to view the other Bloggers Challenge Technique ideas for today.
Shelly

FS143 at Splitcoaststampers

Today the Featured Stamper at SCS is Miss Boo.  She is the Queen of Clean and Simple- both of which I think are HARD!  With a FS challenge, you have to change three things- I changed:
1) no stamp used for the candle
2)I added embossing with the CB on the candlestick
3)I used a different ribbon treatment.
Here is a link to the card I cased
Beautiful, huh?

OK, so I have no stamp with a candle- so I improvised.  I took plain Real Red CS and put it through the Cuttlebug, then highlighted the embossed areas with Real Red ink straight from the ink spot.  Next, I cut out a 'topper' and applied black ink around the edges with a sponge. I added red stickles to the 'topper'. The flame is the inside of the campfire flame in this set (by FCD)  Well, all of the Holly leaves are HUGE, so I decided- why waste the rest of a good image- and colored in the campfire with green Prismacolor pencils and blended with Gamsol- which worked OK, so I stamped a few more of the flames, colored them in and cut them apart- these leaves became my leaves at the base of the candle. I added a few red stickles for berries on the leaves, then added yellow stickles to the flame.
  The ribbon treatment is a little different from the card I was CASE'ing.  I folded the ribbon a couple of times- like a flat bow tie.  I folded a piece of ribbon ~ 6 inches long in half, did a gather stitch along the edge and pulled it closed and tied it for the little flower. Without folding it in 1/2, it was way too big.  Then, I took red thread and gathered a cluster of red seed beads and applied them to the center of the little gathered flower.  The sentiment is from a new set at FCD Shepherd Snow Family
I made two of these cards, and since we are getting closer and closer to Christmas, that was a good thing!
A great challenge for a Sunday afternoon.
 I colored the leaves and the flame with Prismacolor Pencils and gamsol.  I found a great thread on SPS talking about the pencils, and stayed up half of the night reading it.  I have a set of 120 of these pencils, and would love to use them more- need more color confidence.  The combination of greens was a suggestion by Mr Hambo on the thread.  I used 1005 Limepeel, Marine Green 988, Kelp Green 1090 and Dark green 908. I added a touch of White to the center of the leaves. The flames on the candle are 917 and 1003.
   I spend some time making a color chart, and writing down the 8 or 10 newer pencils that I do not have- as they retired a few of the pencils in my set and added a few more colors.  Here is that post if you care to check it out.
  Here is a link to a chart on SCS for color matches for Prismacolor to SU
I love to have charts like this- as I use mostly SU papers, and it makes it easier to match up colors. 

Thanks for stopping by!I sure hope you enjoyed my ramblings today!
Shelly

Bloggers Challenge- Halloween-Three cards to share

I wanted to share three cards for Halloween- the first two are digital images -this first image is a digital image perfect for a Halloween card. My kids are in High School and College- so I thought this would be a perfect image for a kid that age.  The image is available at FCD on Pamela's Blog for just one dollar.  I made it in a couple of different colors (as my twins are a boy and a girl).  I found this Dp at Target for one dollar too..... (I am saving my husband so much money!!!).  The image is colored inith Copic markers (C-0,2,3,5,7 and black 100, E00, G24, R24 and 3 sharpie markers in shades of purple). There is Shimmerz Angel Wings on the clouds and the moon, and over the purple on the inside of the cape.

The sentiment reads,"Once upon a midnight dreary". I cut the sentiment out of the BG paper.

On to the second image- which I also downloaded from the internet in an attempt to try digital images.  I think they are great for trying out all of the Copic markers and what blends and what does not blend.........
Unfortunately, I did not bookmark where this image came from.  Again, for older kids it is a great image- not too juvenile and not too sweet.    We go from all 5 of us here to one child- and the one who is at home is involved in school sports, and studies in the rest of her free time.  So, we go through a lively busy house to a very Q_U_I_E_T house......So, I thought it would be something that would make the kids chuckle.  I love this image with the eyes on the tree and the eyeball hanging from the dead branch- if you know where it is from, please drop me a line. The sentiment says "Things are kind of dead around here".

Finally, not my idea- I CASE'd this from one I saw at a SU stamping event I attended.  Too cute, don't you think?  The outside top 1/2 was run through the Big Shot with a texture plate, and color brayered on the raised part. I stamped the sentiment and applied the punched hands- which are folded in 1/2- part on the front and part on the inside.
  Then the card was put through the Big Shot with the die that cuts out windows.  The punched face was applied to the inside so it would peek through the window.  I have included a picture below of the card opened so you can see the entire punched image.
  My sister has younger kids- who will get this card in the mail- I hope they will like it!  They live about 1/2 hour from us, and we do not get to see them too often, but it will be a big thrill if they stop by in their costumes- they are 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th grades- so may prefer to be with their friends- their older brother is a senior in High School....so not out Trick or treating.

I will look forward to seeing all of your Halloween creations- Thanks for a great challenge!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful safe Halloween.
Shelly

MoJo Monday Sketch 110

  I have a huge pile of cards I need to make, so I took this opportunity to follow the MoJo Monday sketch. One of the cards I need is a card for a Baby Girl- Oh how I love lace and ribbons and sewing on cards!
  The base CS is from a stack I purchased at Joann Fabrics called the Luxury Stack- it has a beautiful sheen on it. I used a piece of Whisper White and used a  Zig-Zag to put the pink Luxury Stack on the card front. I use a piece of Eyelet lace for the left side strip, and sewed it on with a Zig-Zag stitch. I used Basic Grey Bittersweet for the DSP. The word is from Hampton Arts. The little baby in the basket is C-1994 Rock-a-bye Baby by All Night Media. The BG scallop is a nestability with Ruby Red SU CS.
  The image is colored with Copic markers. I used a Sakura Gelly Roll pen t.o add highlights to the stars above the sweet baby girl and hanging down from the basket.
  The final touch is double sided Pink Satin ribbon by Offray- it is heavenly to touch and looks so pretty on the card. I added a Dew Drop to finish off the card. 

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly