Sending hugs!

A paper crafting friend just lost her husband of many years, and I wanted to send her a card. Since I could not be there in person, I wanted to send a 'warm hugs' type card. 

 I just love this image and it sends a warm hug to the recipient!  My favorite color is pink, but I added multiple colors in the background Gelli Print for distraction , The Gelli Print was too small for the entire background, so I cut it in 3 equal parts, and employed some shimmery gold Washi strips. 

House Mouse- AG and DT call https://housemouse-challenge.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by!

Shelly

Unused No More!

 A couple of my crafty friends, Jeanette and Barb came up with a new challenge for 2025, Unused no more. Lets use some of the products we have on our shelves that are gathering dust!

 I have a (clearing throat) few unused items.  We can use stamps, stencils, die cuts, embossing folders, etc....any crafty items we own.

I pulled out a Unity set that is unused except for one sentiment and made a card for a wedding I attended this past weekend. 

The birdhouse is embossed using Queens Gold EP, and the birds stamped in Ballet Blue, then Versamark and clear EP was used. 

I layered 2 die cuts I had - the top one from a used supplies sale, and the 2nd I will ID and edit my post.  A layer of gold cardstock was added. There is a sentiment inside also from the same Unity set. 

We are a group that attends the 'Gather' retreat each year in Wisconsin in early April and craft the weekend away. Many of us met on Splitcoaststampers.com and are from across the miles (One friend is even joining this year from Canada!).  Those without blogs will post on Social Media somewhere. 

These are the links to the ladies that are bloggers.  Each name is linkable to their blogs : )  

Barb , Carol , Jeanette , Terry, Rebekah , Darlene , LJ has a blog but mostly posts to Instagram, Angela, Terry and Kathy will post on Social Media. 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Shelly

Christmas card making and VSN

I have been away from my blog for a bit- and here now creating for Christmas and Virtual Stamp Night over at Splitcoaststampers.com  .........

For the Holiday Plaid challenge, I used a Lawn Fawn set using stamps from the Scrapbook and Cards Today event from October.....  

 I love this sweet die cut and mouse image- coloring using Copic markers. The die using Holiday Plaid theme.  The card uses wrapping paper from past Christmas- shimmery silver,  for the die cut sentiment. 

And, another make- with the theme gifts- same set:

A stenciled card- stickles added to the Distress inked bulbs...  and the DP from Lawn Fawn. I added Silver metallic washi tape. The die cut is plain white cardstock. The images are colored using Copic markers. 

Not very traditional colors, but fun for a Christmas themed card. 

I hope you are having a blessed December !

Thanks for stopping by!

Shelly

Back to school and Autumn

It's been a while since the last time I have posted here.  I am joining in a challenge on Instagram to post cards using a back to school theme and Harvest or Autumn theme.  Use a new technique or card fold and any sentiment.

 Well, teachers, students, families all go back to school, but think of the pets that have all summer to spend quality time with owners that are all of a sudden gone all day to work!  

So, for card one, here's one for the pets!

 And, a second card for Autumn

Both cards in a new style for me- no techniques, just using DP and stamped and embossed sentiments. 

Card 1 uses sentiments by MFT, card 2, Sunny Studios. 

Challenges: TBA

Thanks for stopping by! 

Shelly

Sending Love and Hugs

For an Instagram hop, we are to use our 'stash' and use supplies in an unexpected way.

I dug out a Crafters Companion stamp and die cut set I bought and have never used.....  

We are also challenged to use Red, White and Blue on our cards.  I colored the die cut image using Copic markers.  The unexpected craft item I used was a paper towel that I saves after I cleaned up a crafty session that used red and blue inks.... I used that paper towel and die cut the sentiment (from SSS or Simon Says Stamps).  This is a frequently used sentiment I use when chatting with my kids....  Perfect die for me!

The image was colored using Copics and the background uses Distress Oxide inks. I added white using the end of a blending brush and white craft ink by SU.  

The Instagram hop is HERE

Challenges: TBA

Thanks for stopping by!

Shelly

Stay Cool

Many Thanks to Spellbinders who sent me some fun images from House Mouse- and this is one of them!  I so love House Mouse: )  

 As the weather heats up, I thought you'd appreciate this fun image!

I colored the image using Copics and a blending brush.  Ahhhhh- this looks like a wonderful way to cool off on a steaming hot day!

 I love the newer House Mouse images also now come with sentiments which match the images perfectly!  

Challenges TBA

Thanks for stopping by!

Shelly

House Mouse newbies!

I saw that House Mouse (Spellbinders) has now released new stamps!  I love them all and love to color too.  Here are a couple of my makes:

 I really enjoy that they come with added sentiments that coordinate now!  It is so helpful to me to not have to dig through my stamps for a good sentiment.....  

 The image is colored using Copics. For the CAS challenge at Splitcoast, I needed to keep it CAS,  so added a touch of color using stenciling on the background.  

Last week, I used another image and made these 2 cards:

and

 On the first, gingham DP plus a texture on the blue strip using the score board. Coloring using Copics.

On the 2nd, I used a background of shaving creme technique. The Spellbinders die did not have a good next side, so I freehanded the cut and then colored the frame blue. Again, sentiments are now included with the stamp.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Shelly

Blackout Embossing

I made a couple of cards with the blackout embossing technique- quick and easy!

Ohhh, I love birds and have this beautiful 3D Embossing folder from Simon Says Stamps, aka SSS.

The tutorial is on the Splitcoast Technique TLC1001 thread.  I added DOC inks to the debossed image, then black over the top....  I love this- the colors are best if vibrant!

                            

 I have this new Altenew suite of stamps, stencil. EF- love this trio!  I used the 3D EF and added color using DOX, then black over the top.  I used a die from the suite to finish my card. What a fun look.  Hope you enjoy these cards and will consider coming to check out the challenge!

Challenges: 

First card:  Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge- AG

Thanks for stopping by!

Shelly

Rediscovery IG Hop

I joined in an Instagram Hop to rediscover supplies...  and our theme is Sympathy and/or One layer cards. I made one of each......

My sympathy card uses a newer set from Altenew, but the sentiment set is Gina K/Unity which has been sitting lonely in my stash for ages!

I used the stamp, then used the stencil to brush in the images.  I used Copics to fine tune the edges.  I do not enjoy making Sympathy cards, but seem to need them more and more lately.......

Next, I did a one-layer card.  The postage rates have increased so much if there are any embellishments on cards, aka lumps or bumps.....  so, we aim to minimize......

This sweet image is by Impression Obsession.  Both of my sisters are huge gardeners....  I am not as I have pretty bad allergies!  My husband is out green thumb : ) 

This image is colored on heavy cardstock using Copics and Distress Oxide inks. There is Wink of Stella on the bee. How sweet is this!  

Challenges TBA

Thanks for stopping by!

Shelly

Earth Day

I joined a group of ladies in an Instagram Hop for Earth Day.  Our posts were to be Earth Day, Umbrella or Rainy days themed. We are making 3 cards and are using up our older supplies.

I used House Mouse images on all 3 of my cards and all coloring is done using Copic markers. 

My husband and my mother grew up on farms.... so we do not view rainy days as gloomy, we view them as a gift for the crops, aka the food we eat.......

I love this parade of mice with their daisy umbrellas.  I layered it on a Hero Arts collage stamp as the background done in watercolor.  The die cut is Memory Box. 

The Embossing folder came with my Gemini. I love the pattern of it. The sentiment- unknown- was in my sentiment box unmarked...... Die cut is MFT

And finally, I used scraps from a 2011 Basic Grey 6x6 DP pad..... I used the Spotlight technique as the background is pretty busy.  I also paper pieced an umbrella from the DP. 

Challenges:

House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge: AG or use a stencil

TBA

Thanks for stopping by!

Shelly