Thursday, February 27, 2014

An Asian Poem- and a little Blog Candy


  I love this image by Art Neko/About Art Accents- it is a Plum Blossom Branch and a Poem.
 I used a technique from the New Technique Junkies Newsletter called Smooshed Ink Blocks. I love this technique and you will most likely be seeing it again- it is a version of Polished Stone.

*** I love this image so much, I purchased it twice- if you would like to own it- just leave a comment on this post. I will use Random.org for a winner next Tuesday 3/4/14 AM.***     

Thanks for stopping by!
 Shelly

Monday, February 24, 2014

Sweet Stamps- Your Favorite Color

The challenge at Sweet Stamps  this week- show us your Favorite color....if you can pick just one.....
 I have a need for Sympathy cards recently......  a nice soft shimmery Blue will do....... I am loving the blues with a hint of teal in them lately too........
AND
I am in need of LOTS of Birthday cards this month.......
I am a lover of Pink as well....... What do you think???

 I used shimmery cardstock from Paper Temptress, and embossed the beautiful frame and sentiments in Queens Gold EP.  Be sure to use the antistatic pad so the EP stays put!  I used Parchment Vellum and White EP for the butterflies, and added pearls to the centers. I just glued down the centers of the butterflies.

Here are the supplies I used for these cards:

 I hope you will join in the challenge! Every entry qualifies you for a chance to win $20 of items from the store at Sweet Stamps, and if you use a Sweet Stamps image- you will receive an additional chance to win! The winner is chosen by Random.org- so everyone has a chance to win!

  Here is a direct link to the Monthly Challenge as well- 1015-11/14-Center Step Card. You have a chance to WIN- winners drawn by Random.org.

  Stop by the Sweet Stamps Challenge Blog HERE to see what the rest of the DT has created for the Challenges

 Challenges:
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Cards in Envy- Red/Pink and White
Eureka Stamps- Add a Butterfly
Catered Crop- Birthday
Crafting Musketeers- Butterflies

***Sweet Stamps also has a PINTREST page- HERE ***

Thanks for stopping by!
 Shelly

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Belated Birthday and Blog Award

I am so bad about mailing cards.......so this cute digi turtle (and the Belated sentiment) made me smile!  Someone will get this card in the mail soon......

   My blogging friend Lynn posted a card using this cute image and I had to go snag it from Deedee's Digi's. This is a challenge where if you post a card with a digi, you get next month's for free.

  The image is pre-colored which really made it fast and easy! The sentiment (Happy Belated Birthday) and more of the numbered DP is inside the card.

Blog Award- I do not usually play along, but the mood struck me today- and I thought the questionnaire looked fun.....

Denise nominated me for a Blog Award- Pop on over and say Hi and see her gorgeous cards!!!
Here are the rules of the nomination:
  1. Be sure to thank the blog that nominated you and be sure to link back to their blog.
  2. Answer the 11 questions that the blogger asked you.
  3. Nominate 11 of your favorite blogs with under 500 followers and ask your own 11 questions.
  4. Make sure to let each blogger know about your Liebster Blog nomination on their blog (leave a comment and link back to your Liebster Blog post).
 Here are the questions Denise asked me:


Here are my 11 questions for the chosen bloggers


1.  What is your favorite coloring method? Copics

2.  What die cutting machine do you use and why? Big Shot- I had a Cuttlebug and it broke, so I started using the Big Shot I got at a SU party I had- love it.  And, I just bought a Silhouette Cameo.

3.  Do you prefer digital stamps or traditional stamping and why? I go through phases- but had a computer crash and lost a ton of digi's, so stopped using them quite as much. 

4.  What other crafts do you do except card making? Oh I have been creafting since I was little.....  I sew, smock, and love embroidery. I used to Cross Stitch alot, I knit, crochet and do dabble in beading/jewelry making a bit.

5.  What prompted you to start your own blog? I decided to give it a try to join a DT for a small company that was a sponsor for Technique Junkies.

6.  What do you do with all the cards you make? I do not send too many of them- so bad at that!  I send cards to the soldiers. The hospital I work at is building a Ronald McDonald house, so in the future, you may see more kids cards : )

7.  How many cards a week do you make? depends- 2-4 generally.  I am very slow at cardmaking......

8.  Do you have a craft room? Yes, it was formerly full of all of my sewing supplies, but now shares space with my stamping supplies.

9.   What is your favorite crafting? Papercrafting.  I rarely sew.........except for on my cards.

10.  Are there things that you collect and if so, what is it? Rubber stamps, I am always on the lookout for items to use on cards : )

11.  What is your favorite craft products and why? I love the cutting machine(s) and my Technique Junkies newsletter : )
Here are the 11 bloggers that I nominated:
And, here are the 11 questions for them to answer:

1)Why did you start Blogging?
2) Where do you get your inspiration for your projects?
3) What is your favorite coloring method?
4)What time is the best for your creativity?
5)Do you like making 3D items?
6)Describe your typical type of cardmaking- eg CAS, Shabby/Chic.
7)Do you like using rubber or digi images?
8)What other crafts do you do?
9)If you were the main character in a movie, who would play the role of you?
10)What makes you Laugh out Loud?
11)Name three crafting items you could not live without.

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Burlap ATC swap

Before I left for Asia, I joined an ATC swap at RubberStamp Chat for Burlap ATC's.

 Inspired by a recycling cardboard segment on Creative Jumpstart 2014, I made these flowers and decided to use them for this ATC swap. I made grass and leaves with painted Burlap- which I learned from the Technique Junkies. The sentiment is Rogue Redhead. I added Stickles on the flowers and all around the edge of the ATC.

 I did NOT exchange this ATC, but wanted to try this technique from the segment as well...
 This one would have been too time consuming to make 9 of while I was trying to pack and get everything else done! But I love the look of this!

Here are the ATC's I recieved in return:
On the Lt- ATC by Pat H aka CritterPortrait on RSC
On the Rt, ATC by Jaimie S

 On the Lt- ATC by Alsmouse - the background is a beautiful metallic shimmer using Tattered Angels
On the Rt- CGStamper

 On the top- this one is not signed : ( but I will edit if I find out who made it.
On the bottom- Pat Hanbery #2  looks like painted burlap but using a stamp : )

On the Top- Diane M  'Burlap Catnap'
On the Bottom- ATC by Sheila-Rose aka Yankee 'One Eyed'

And a shimmery floral ATc from the hostess Deb Lovett.

I love the fact that I knew I would be receiving some really fun mail when I got home from traveling!

Hope you have been inspired!
 Shelly

Monday, February 17, 2014

Sweet Stamps- Anything Goes

It's Tuesday -another challenge at Sweet Stamps .  Our challenge theme is Anything Goes.

   This layout is called Offset Die Cuts- I learned how to make it- yep - the latest Technique Junkies Newsletter. The most time consuming part is figuring out which die set you want to use for the grouping- and what image to put in the center of it.

 I inked the image with Shades Die Ink Spots direct to rubber, and stamped it onto white cardstock. I inked the image tone on tone for a watermark type look using the Aegean Spot. The Celtic border die was cut and the outside edges have the little scallop, so I used that on the top and bottom of the card.

Here are the products I used making this card.

 I hope you will join in the challenge! Every entry qualifies you for a chance to win $20 of items from the store at Sweet Stamps, and if you use a Sweet Stamps image- you will receive an additional chance to win! The winner is chosen by Random.org- so everyone has a chance to win!

  Here is a direct link to the Monthly Challenge as well- 1015-11/14-Center Step Card. You have a chance to WIN- winners drawn by Random.org.

  Stop by the Sweet Stamps Challenge Blog HERE to see what the rest of the DT has created for the Challenges

 Challenges:
Make it Monday - Anything Goes

***Sweet Stamps also has a PINTREST page- HERE ***

Thanks for stopping by!
 Shelly

Friday, February 14, 2014

Happy Chinese New Year! Sweet Stamps Monthly Challenge- Folds

 We are making cards with Fun Folds for the Monthly Challenge at Sweet Stamps, 
so I took out a Technique Junkies CD called 3D Fun Folds and found this fun Tee Pee card.
 For the Chinese New Year, it is the Year of the horse.  I used Medieval Metals to emboss the horse image, then stippled on color. I added gold stickers to the edges of the cardstock and added a banner with the year.


 Side two has Cherry Blossoms colored in Copics- I used the Tea Rose set plus (Did you know Sweet Stamps is now selling single Copic markers ? )  single markers used- E35, G24 and Y15. I added a touch of Stickles for some shimmer. The big gorgeous fan is from a local Stamp Store.


 I added some color to the bamboo image with a Tank spot- first direct to paper, then I used a waterbrush to spread out the color.  I die cut three of the smaller scalloped circles and sponged the edges, then used them for my Waterlilly pads......  The Water Lillies are colored with Tea Rose Copics set Plus Y15 and then Creative Inspirations Fairy Dust paint was applied.

 This card has a spot of Velco for the closure, and lays flat for mailing. 

 The 15th is the last day of the Chinese New Year Celebration. Here is a link about the Chinese New Year that my daughter sent to me. Really- and here are lots of interesting facts about the celebration. Did you learn anything new??? I know I did!

 Here are the Sweet Stamps items I used on my card:

I hope you will join in the challenge! Every entry qualifies you for a chance to win $20 of items from the store at Sweet Stamps, and if you use a Sweet Stamps image- you will receive an additional chance to win! The winner is chosen by Random.org- so everyone has a chance to win!

  There are weekly challenges as well- come join us!!!   Stop by the Sweet Stamps Challenge Blog HERE to see what the rest of the DT has created for the Challenges

 Challenges:
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Brown Sugar- Use a die cut or a punch
Emerald Fairies- Let's see a Banner

***Sweet Stamps also has a PINTREST page- HERE ***

Thanks for stopping by!
 Shelly