DDD- Midsummer Night's Dream

It's the 15th of the month, and that means it is time for the Dueling Darlings : )  Paola (dazzlers) and Heather (Diva's) are the hostesses this month. The theme is ***Midsummer Night's Dream***. The play follows the adventures of four young lovers who are controlled and manipulated by the fairies who inhabit the forest in which the play is set.

My fairy could not possibly be a bad influence- she looks too sweet, don't you think???

Since both of our hostesses this month are from Canada, and July 1st marked Canada's 150th Birthday, we are to add a maple leaf somewhere on our card.

Supplies:
DE SIGNER PAPER : 
Graphic45 ( Nature Sketchbook Collection)
* Flora Fascination # 4501476
* Wildflower Bouquet # 4501478
* The Sprinkling Limited Edition Colors c/s stack
STAMPS:
Fairy Sweet by Penny Black ( illustrated by M.Manning) 
Maple Leaf by SU 
Sentiments( sm) by Inkadinkado ( lrg) by Great Impression E655
ACCESSORIES:
* red sheer ribbon ; turquoise jewels -from stash

We are told that many catchy quotes and phrases have roots in Shakespearean time- a few examples: *My heart of Hearts* In my minds eye * Knock knock, who's there*  Love is Blind * Too much of a good thing* Lie Low* Break the Ice*, etc, etc

Here is the sketch I used from Sweet Sketch Wednesday:

I lost my sidebar links when my computer crashed in December, and I STILL have not put them on my sidebar..... .  Here they all are:
Divas
Barb ** Blog: Barb's Inkin' into Retirement
Carol ** Blog: Lost in my craft room
Judy ** Blog: Paper Hugs & Kisses
Heather ** Blog:https://landofstamping.wordpress.com/ 
Kelly ** Blog: *Sandcastle Stamper*
LJ ** Blog: Bucky Girl
Suzy ** no blog, Gallery SuzyS1104 - Homemade Cards, Rubber Stamp Art, & Paper Crafts - Splitcoaststampers.com
Tami ** : : : : BlueInks Design
Terry S ** her gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...0&ppuser=11182

Dazzlers:
Darlene ** The World According to Bijou
Debbie ** The Ink Igloo
Jeanette ** Cre8tive Play: It's Cheaper than TherapyCreative Play-It's Cheaper Than Therapy
Paola ** blog That's Amore! (SAMA )  Please check her gallery at SCS HERE
Shelly ** My creative rumblings
Terry A ** For now, here's her gallery: Splitcoaststampers Member Galleries - PurplePansy26 - Handmade Cards & Crafts
Terry L ** It's Totally Terry
Tracie ** Crafty Creations
Debby B ** no blog (Gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...edeb&x=18&y=13

Challenges:
Sketch noted above
TBA

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Sunset Silhouette

Happy Thursday!  I had some time recently to create with some of my dies, so I put together a card.

 I doubled up the die- black over white to get depth- love the way it looks. The background is just inked up with reds and purples, then green. I backed it with black, then purple.
  The sentiment is from an older SU set. I am on a mission to 'use my stuff'!!! It says, " Each one of us is God's special work of art".

Challenges:
Word Art Wednesday- AG
Happy Little Stampers-HLDS_ AG with dies

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

COF-Let Your Light Shine

The Crafters of Faith hostess for July is Kelly. Our scripture inspiration for July:

Matthew 5:16: "Let your light shine before others."

 Please create a card using the scripture as a base and use any image with a lighthouse, anything nautical (oceans, anchors, etc) that often accompany lighthouses, or any image(s) that are with stars, light in the sky, etc. Let your light shine!
~Kelly

 I decided to take out my 'old' SU images- I am not sure I have ever used this one.  It was a quick and CAS card to put together.  The die is by Gina Marie.

To see the COF cards made in the challenge, click HERE
(You may have to log in at Splitcoaststampers to view these cards : )

Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks- stamping
Addicted to Stamps and More- CAS
Cards 4 Guys- Beside the Sea
Through the Craftroom Door- AG


Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Blog Candy

I am giving away a $20.00 gift card to my DIL's ETSY shop!
If you would like a chance to win, the post is on Instagram here:

CreativeCraftsbyKay

I will draw a name 7/10

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Strength

 I had a little block of time and made a quick card using Distress Oxide inks.

 I used a variety of colors on the background and was hoping for a soft pastel look.  I tried to add Distress Oxides on a separate piece of cardstock and use it to just color the top of the flower- that was a fail : )  That's OK, next time I have time to play, I will use this stamp again and see what I can come up with.......
 On the inside of the card, there is a row of the hearts up the Lt side.

 We took a quick trip to Virginia and visited my youngest daughter. We had a great time!

Challenges: TBA

Thanks for stopping by!\
Shelly

Oh Say, Can You See.........

Happy 4th of July weekend! I had a little fun creating a card or two for this weekend : )

 I used the Stella Says Sketch challenge from Bugaboo for this card.  I love her fun dress!  And, the great sentiment. This card also qualifies for the Cut it Up challenge. Festive Fridays at the Outlawz is also looking for cards using a July 4th theme.

http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/

 I used the same image again and created a more CAS card. The DP is the same too. I used some silver wrapping paper I purchased at Christmas and punched out a star. I am entering this in the Less is More challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

CYS-Favorite Beverage

Our 'CYS' aka Craft Your Stash group from SCS has a challenge this month with the theme 'Your Favorite Beverage'.

 Well, I drink alot of black tea....all day, every day!  So, I went with a tea theme : )

 I bought a journal for Bible Journaling a while back, and was able to complete one page in 2/2016.....  I had laid out the idea for the cover and primed it, but put it away and never finished it.  What a perfect time to get it out!
  I painted the cover while in 2016....  so, I tried adding distress inks, but they would not stick.  So, painted the background with acrylic paints in a variety of colors.  I added a stencil by Ranger DYS 34032 and painted using a shimmery gold paint.
  I stamped Sweet and Sassy (SNS His Book) in Black Tuxedo Memento Black ink. (Image on top lt and bottom Rt). They are colored with Copics and/or sponged with ink. I added some shimmer using a Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen.
  On the top sentiment panel, I used a hole punch and added multiple fibers and a cross charm. I also added a butterfly charm. I bought the charm when a stamping shop closed about 3-4 years ago and I am in love with this pretty butterfly.

Challenge:
Summer 2017 Coffee Lovers Blog Hop- Coffee/tea/cocoa
Cards and More- Anything but a Card
Simon Says Stamp Monday- Stencil It
Word Art Wednesday- AG

I decided to also make a card, as I found a package of napkins that I thought would make fun backgrounds....

 I used a dollar stamp that is years old for the martini, and the sentiment is Sweet Stamps.

The CYS group can be located here.  List mom Barb had the brilliant idea- lets use our stash items- with a monthly theme, I am sure finding no shortage of items to use in my creative space...!!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

For the love of Coffee

I have never been a coffee drinker, but I do have many, many coffee obsessed friends and children too... so, in honor of them and knowing many who would love getting a card....

  I found this sweet Panda coffee mug digital image- and could not resist! It is from the Craftin Desert Diva's shop. I had to layer the card on the bamboo EF. The DP is SU. The little sprig of steam is from a Michael Strong stamp. The sentiment came with the digi, and is punched out with a SU punch.

 I was creating for a sketch challenge for June at the Yahoo Group About Oriental Stamp Art. I just changed the sentiment:

The sentiment is from MFP- no longer open.

Challenges:
Coffee Lovers Bloghop- Summer 2017

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Father's Day 2017

 I made my husband a fun Father's Day card- he loved it!  He is a nature buff and just loves Squirrels and birds.

 This card was made entirely with dies.  The tree, squirrels, bunny and the flower buds are by Cheery Lynn Dies. The Cardinals are from an Impression Obsession die. The white border is a Gina Marie die. The leaves are from a MS edge punch that I cut into pieces and applied.

 I applied Distress Oxide inks- first Peeled Paint and Broken China.  Next, I added Cracked Pistachio and Faded Jeans. The letters/number were cut with Die-Versions  Elegance Font DV411 die.

 I had to buy a bird feeder that spins off the squirrels because they were taking over the back yard!!! Did I mention he even names them?

Challenges:
Come and Get It- Father's Day
Glitter and Sparkle- Father's Day
Pile it On- Put a Bird on It
2 Crafty Critter Crazies- Furry Friends

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

More Napkin fun

I used the other half of the napkin from THIS post, and made another card.

 For this card, I used the entire background. After removing/separating the backing layers from the napkin, I adhered it to a piece of cardstock that was run thru the Xyron. I fussy cut the butterflies and the flowers on the 2nd panel and popped them up on dimensionals. I added some shimmer with a Shimmery pen. The sentiment is from Art Neko/About Art Accents.
 I finished off the card, as you can see, by rounding the corners on the top two layers and adding sequins.

Challenges:
Inspiration Destination- AG
Mod Squad Challenge- Square card
{Pin}spirational- Inspiration photo

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly