My creative rumblings: February 2012

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Reflections by Gnome......

My Stamp Addicts blogging group on SCS has started a monthly challenge- and this is #1- reflection.

I recently recieved this SU set as a hostess gift for having a SU party- how fun is this? This set is called Gnome, Sweet Gnome.

I know there are a thousand tutorials for doing reflection techniques. I just stamped the images on clear packaging (like acrylic) and turned it over and rubbed it onto the cardstock. I colored the image and reflection with Copic markers. Next, I colored the image and reflection with a versamark marker and clear embossed it. Then I brayered over that with Soft Sky, Baja Breeze and Blue Bayou.

The Stamp Addicts logo is on my sidebar- if you are so inclined, hop on by and see what the other members created for the challenge!

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Sweet Stamps and St. Patrick's Day

The Challenge at Sweet Stamps this week is St Patrick's Day. I love St. Patrick's Day- and everything green and not green that goes along with it- my Father is 100% Irish!

I decided to make TWO versions of this card as long as I was at it.....

And here is one with the shimmer from the Creative Inspirations paint:

HOW To Make these cards:

-I made a DTP (Direct to Paper) swipe with a light green and a dark green ink pad

-Next, add Gesso over the ink and using a credit card, scrape it off in both directions- up/down and side to side

-Add more DTP ink in the two green colors.

-Stamp the shamrock in the darker green and in White Dye ink randomly

-Add Autumn Wheat Creative Inspirations Ink with an sponge or a stamp that has wide pattern.

-Stamp the sentiment in Black

-Cut out the Nestability and the Gold Metallic cardstock for the back layer.

-Put the Nestability back on the sentiment layer and use a dauber to gently apply color to the border

-Pierce the outer border of the Nestability.

-Using Gold Metallic thread, add a Zig Zag stitch to the top 2 layers:
***TIP- Using Metallic threads adds shimmer to your card and is a perfect way to glitz up cards for soldiers that you cannot use glitter on- Creative Inspirations Paints are another great shimmery idea- it will not rub off on the soldiers hans or get on their uniforms***

-Add the gems and the ribbon bow.

Products used:
Stamps: Shamrock Duo,
Inks: Shades Dye Inks and White Dye Ink for Parchment Crafting and Black Memento Ink
Autumn Wheat Creative Inspirations Paint

I hope you will join the challenge at the Sweet Stamps blog- one randomly chosen Papercrafter will be chosen to win product from the Sweet Stamps Store. If you use a Sweet Stamps image, you will be eligable for two entries. Please check the side bar of the blog for the rules. **If you do not have any St Pat's stamps- be creative- use shamrocks or green flowers.....: )

Challenges:
Everybody Art-Monochromatic
Ribbon Carousel-Anything goes with a spooled item (thread-sewing and ribbon bow)
TopTipTuesday- Stitching and a tip ***see above***
House of Gilli- Green
Lexi's creations- Monochromatic
Love to Create- add stitching
Pan Pastels- use a ribbon
Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Thursday, February 23, 2012

A Bird's Song

I knew I had to create with this image at McMahon Five Designs the minute I saw it..... I have discovered that I really enjoy Vintage images while designing for M5D....... (have you noticed???).

It is called A Rose Song.

I colored the image with Copic Markers and used some Prima Designer Papers and lace. I used a Spellbinders Picot Edge die under the image using DSP and I cut a Spellbinders beaded circle die using the DSP (pink and brown) - it is along the Lt side of the border- up and down. I hand gathered the pink organdy ribbon in a Zig-Zag pattern:

I added some pretty Zia Creative roses with a smidge of Stickles for shimmer. Finally I added some pearls- I deconstructed one side and added them on in pieces.

I wanted to quickly share a picture that will show you how I did that.......

I like to play around and use my supplies in different ways...... I punched out the center with a 1 3/4" punch- you could just cut it with scissors though.....

Challenges:
Sisterhood of Crafters- Use a digi
Stamp N Doodles- Lace and flowers
Make My Monday- Victorian
Crazy Challenge- Use a die or a punch
PanPastelUK- Animal- (can you see the birds in the image?)
Stampin' Sisters in Christ- Must include a Flower

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

McMahon Five Designs New Releases 2/23

It is another fun release week at McMahon Five Designs! Which one is your favorite???

Monkey Business

JPG and PNG

Card by: Maxine

Card by: Sue

Cupcake Kitten JPG and PNG

Card by: Sue

Live to Dance JPG and PNG

Card by: Sue

A Rose Song JPG

Card by: Shelly

All Things JPG and PNG

Card by: Maxine

Card by: Michelle A

For more details on the projects above, visit the Design Team blogs!

Angie

Fran
Jeni
Kelly

Sue

Thanks for stopping by! Shelly

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Happy 25th Wedding Anniversary Raymond G!

Today my husband and I are celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary! The time has flown by really quickly...and I think I got the better end of the deal : )

This is the card I made for him. It uses the Technique Junkies Varnished Mahogany background. I used the owl images from Sweet and Sassy Stamps colored with Copic markers. The heart background is a deconstructed piece of the Cheery Lynn Designs Italian Doily. I cut a tree limb out of My Minds Eye DSP and punched out some little hearts. the 25 is glittered and placed on a ribbon banner from the same DSP.

Onward to 25 more years together!!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Sweet Stamps- B-I-N-G-O

We are playing Bingo this week at Sweet Stamps for Challenge #54. I had fun creating this card:

and close-up:

Here is the Bingo card for you to play on. All you need to do is pick one line on the card, either horizontally, vertically or diagonally. You can even choose an X or + pattern.

I used Heat Embossing, Ribbon and Flowers.

We hope you will join us in this challenge for a chance to win $20 of rubber stamps from SweetStamps. The challenge rules are listed in the sidebar of the challenge blog. There is alot of great inspiration on the blog as well- stop on by!

Do you love sparkle and shimmer? Try taking the Creative Inspirations Paints and dab them on to your paper for a fun fun background. I used Sage, Tu Tu Pink and Blush. I stamped and embossed the Bird on a flowering Branch image with Black Detail Embossing Powder on Cryogen White cardstock. I used the marker water coloring technique (Technique Junkies) to add color- the flowers are Shades Satin Rose water painted on with Sunshine CI paint added in the flower centers. The bird and flowers are cut from a 2nd stamped and embossed image and added for dimension. The bird is attached just in the middle and the head and tail are elevated from the cardstock.
The seam binding is painted with Creative Inspirations Paint- I wet it with water first, then painted on Tu Tu Paint and Blush CI paints. I added a Zig-Zag sewing stitch, then added three pearls in the upper corner with Liquid Pearls in Petal Pink.

Here are the Sweet Stamps supplies I used to create my card:
Stamp- Bird on a Flowering Branch
Black Fine Detail Embossing Powder
Distress Clear Embossing Ink
Liquid Pearls-Petal Pink
Creative Inspirations Paint- Sunshine, Tu Tu, Blush and Sage
Shades Dye Ink-Satin Rose

Challenges:
Lollipop Crafts- Anything goes
Corrosive Challenge- Add dimension- flowers and bird
Two Sisters- Stitching
One Stop Craft- Make your own Background
Outlawz- Dreaming of Spring Challenge

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Sweet on You -On a stamped background : )

Over at The Rogue Redheads blog, there is a challenge for stamped backgrounds. While they have some cool background stamps, I used individual stamped images (or parts of background stamps) to make my card:

I wish you could see this card IRL- it is stamped onto Poison Ivy cardstock that is shimmery and beautiful with Rose Red SU cardstock peeking through the center. Stamp sets used are Snow Hugs and Candy kisses. The hearts are made by I punching out the shape, then sponging on color through the hole from the punched out heart...... The heart and the sentiment punches are all by SU.
The card uses a Technique Junkies technique from the latest newsletter- Trapeze card. I 'layered up' the cupcake (there are three layers) and used Paper Piecing with one of my background pieces for the top of the cake.

Challenges:
Rogue Redhead Challenge- Make a Stamped background
Craft your Days Away- Paper Piecing
Crazy for challenges-Stripes and polkadots
One Stop Craft- Create your Own Background
365 Cards Day 353- Hang at least 2 things (square and cake) from floss
CRAFT- No Designer Papers
Craft Us Crazy- favorite color- :) Pink :)

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Friday, February 17, 2012

Bloggers Challenge- Seashore........

I wanted to make a card for a special Make a Wish event- and I saw the perfect card on Pintrest....

This is Baja Blue- I know- my computer is still at Dell and I am really missing it! The link to the original card I CASE'd is HERE. Tell Linda you found her here if you stop by please! I used all SU images and punches etc except for the Starfish (See-De's). The eyelet fish hook is from Clear DOllar Stamps.

I know this is a stretch- from the Seashore to the little fish.....but I need a card for Sunday and the Make a Wish theme is Sea World. And the seashore is right next to where this little guy is hanging out, right? Well, it is where the guy holding the fishing pole is...... I

I used Cuttlebug highlights and made my own Baker's Twine- I learned how on the Technique Junkies CD Stamping Companion.
Those of you who know me have heard the story about my nephew who has gone through Cancer treatment last year and Make a Wish sent the family to Disney. The cards Brian received (from all over the world) was such a nice thing- so I am trying to be good about sending cards that may touch people when they least expect it!

Bloggers challenge is open to everyone- so it would be so fun to see you join in with your Seashore themed card.

Join in the linky party and don't forget to stop by and say hello to list Mom Lisa- HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Thursday, February 16, 2012

McMahon Five Designs -Girl Talk

I chose a digi from the new release at McMahon Five Designs called Girl Talk

Girl Talk JPG and PNG

I was inspired by a challenge at City Crafter to make two identical cards aka Perfect Pair- except you need to make one in purple and one in blue. I used some Pan Pastels for the very first time and had fun... : )

I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder and highlighted the embossing using two colors of purple and two colors of blue chalks. I did use a fixative after using the chalks. I also used chalks to color the images- I used Copics on the skin and on the purple card for a lighter touch to her throw. I added a little white over the top of the blues to tone them down. I also added Creative Inspirations paint to the images for some pretty sparkle. I also used 'torn Frames' from the technique Junkies in black.

( **Cuttlebug Embossing Folder now 40% Off** at McMahon Five Designs)

The sentiment is from Create with TLC- LOL I love this!

Challenges:

Crafts and Me-distressed

Fab n Funky- Try Something New (Pan Pastels)

Ruby's Rainbow- Vintage

City Crafter- Perfect pair-one blue one purple

Digital Tuesday- Use your Stash

Crafty Cardmakers- Monochromatic

Stamps R Us- Anything Goes

Stamping Sisters in Christ- Make me smile- One is for my Lil sis' 50th....now does the sentiment make you smile? I hope so,..... (I am older than her.....)

I also wanted to mention- there is a vintage freebie at McMahon Five Designs

Sweet Lil' Sophie *FREEBIE

JPG and PNG