Sweet Stamps- Color challenge and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Sweet Stamps Challenge this week is a color challenge- Pink, Green and Brown:

 I am in love with floral images.....so I had to go with the gorgeous Iris from Sweet Stamps  : )   I stamped the image with Memento black Tuxedo ink and colored it with Copics.  I added a touch of Sakura Gelly roll pen for a touch of shimmer- just a touch...... Then, I fussy cut  out my flower.  The image is in a frame made by an Embossing Folder and highlighting the raised portion with Brownie Shades Die ink. 

  

Here are the Sweet Stamps products I used on my card:
Iris Floral image HERE
Memento Black Tuxedo Ink HERE
Copic Markers HERE
Just for You Sentiment HERE
Brownie Shades Die ink HERE
Nellie Snellen Embossing Folder Oval Frame  HERE
Sentiment die is from the die cut set HERE
Sakura Gelly Roll Pen Stardust HERE

Double Line Tape HERE

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! Please note- there is a limit of 10 challenges for each entry.The winner is chosen by Random.org- so everyone has a chance to win!

 Stop by the Sweet Stamps Challenge Blog HERE to see what the rest of the DT has created for the Challenge or click on the links below.

Sweet Stamps Design Team:

*   Bonnie  *  Calypso *
 * Dawn B  *   Jacki   *  Joni 

                                     *  Kendra  *  Linda                                             

                                          *  Shelly  (you are here)  *  Tamara  * 

Challenges:
Make it Monday- Always Anything Goes- and a fabulous place to discover some great papercrafters!
Glitter and Sparkle- Fav color- Pink : )


As always- I so appreciate you stopping by! 
Shelly

Favorite Cards of 2012

I love going back through my blog and reflecting on the year in Creativity!  Here are my favorite cards made in 2012- I picked one each month..... most using Technique Junkies Techniques.
January:

Image is a digi by Create with TLC

February:

 Image is from Sweet Stamps on Parchment

March:

I won this set from Flourishes - just love it!

April:

I had fun with Die cuts and Sweet Stamps images

May:

A Mother's Day card using Parchment Crafting from Sweet Stamps .

June:

Sweet Stamps- we had a Bleach Challenge

July:

I love this Impression Obsession Artist- used a Technique Junkies background technique.

August:

Michael Strong Kimono stamp and Die- my daughter left to teach English in China...... 5500 miles is a long way from home!  (We are happy for her though....)

September:

Another Sweet Stamps image- the transparency is colored with Copic refills and the background is a die that is water colored, then placed over a shimmery cardstock (in purple).

October:

Another Sweet Stamps image- this was made for a brayering challenge.

November:

A Sweet Stamps image- this was a challenge for a suspension card. 

December:

The image is by About Art Accents and I used a Chinese newspaper for the background.

Looking forward to another fabulous year of Creativity!

Happy New Year!

Shelly

Bloggers Challenge- Sparkle and Shine

 Sparkle and Shine is the challenge at Bloggers Challenge this week- and I have been missing joining in!  I made this card for my charge nurse at work:

 This uses a TJ technique called Mono Markers. I love the depth of color achieved!  I used an image by Sweet Stamps. I used Creative Inspirations paint Fairy Dust over the marker on the candle to add sparkle, and also added sparkle to the centers of the flowers. For the background of the candles, I added a sparkly/shimmery cardstock - the cardstock is slightly off white IRL.

 I am celebrating Christmas with my Family in my hometown of Kankakee, Ill Saturday. So, I am still singing Christmas Hymns and wrapping Christmas gifts : )  And, I may have to make some cookies tomorrow.......

 Challenges:
Bloggers Challenge- Sparkle and Shine
365 Cards #300- Light a Candle
Penny's Paper Crafty- Christmas
Pink Elephant- Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by! Shelly

Sweet Stamps- Sweet and Simple Birthday

The Sweet Stamps Challenge this week is a Sweet and Simple Birthday Card:

 I stamped and embossed the image and Sentiment. I picked the DSP I wanted to use, then cut out the Cheery Lynn Dies with Coordinating cardstock. I added a little corner touch I learned from the Technique Junkies called Curled Corner- I used a piece of  Sophia's Heart Die in the corner under where the curl is.  I added a touch of Sakura Gelly Roll pen for some shimmer- I love this pen- love the fine sparkle and it never clogs : )  My SIL is a dancer and it is her Birthday- I think she will really enjoy this card.
 

Here are the Sweet Stamps products I used on my card:
Margery Stamp- HERE
Happy Birthday Sentiment HERE
Black Fine Detail Embossing Powder and Anti-Static pouch HERE
Ranger Clear Embossing Ink HERE
Double Line Tape HERE
Coordinations Cardstock- Sand  HERE
Cheery Lynn Dies- Dancing Doily Die edge HERE andSophia's Heart Die HERE
Rhinestones Silver HERE
My Mind's Eye- Lost and Found Patterned Paper HERE

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! Please note- there is a limit of 10 challenges for each entry.The winner is chosen by Random.org- so everyone has a chance to win!

 Stop by the Sweet Stamps Challenge Blog HERE to see what the rest of the DT has created for the Challenge or click on the links below.

Sweet Stamps Design Team:

*   Bonnie  *  Calypso *
 * Dawn B  *   Jacki   *  Joni 

                                     *  Kendra  *  Linda                                             

                                          *  Shelly  (you are here)  *  Tamara  * 

Challenges:
Make it Monday- Always Anything Goes- and a fabulous place to discover some great papercrafters!
Daisy Doodles- December Birthdays
Stamptacular Sunday- Embossing

As always- I so appreciate you stopping by! 
Shelly

The Eve of Christmas Eve

 Happy Christmas Eve's Eve! 

I am not exactly ready for Christmas- I am ready for Midnight Mass , but we are not with all of the presents we need for the exchange-there are just need a couple of gifts we need to pick up. And, I am addressing Christmas cards today..........

 For this card, I used a Technique Junkies technique called Brayered Strips and the image is Artistic Outpost.

Challenges:
365 Cards- #295- Stretchy
Artistic Outpost December Referral Program
Card Makin Mamas- Happy Holidays
Craft Us Crazy- Christmas
DL.ART- Anything Red/Green
Forever Friends- Christmas
Creative Belli Challenge- Christmas
Penny's Paper Crafty-Merry Christmas
Simon Says Stamp- Christmas
Anything Goes Challenge- Traditional Christmas Colors
Loves Rubberstamps Challenge- Christmas


Thanks for stopping by!
 Shelly

Requests for Priests at Newtown, Conn.

A letter with a request for prayers and CARDS:

(Written by Fr Suarez' sister)

All of you, I am sure, have heard so much about the tragedy in Newtown, CT. Many of you have received emails from me about my younger brother, Father Luke Suarez, who is a priest at St. Rose of Lima parish, a Catholic church just down the road from Sandy Hook Elementary. He, and his pastor, Monsignor Weiss, arrived at the school within moments of the shooting, and have been caring for the community ever since. The picture I have included was taken at the school.

Father Luke has an impossible task before him. His diocese is without a bishop right now, and there is very little leadership and assistance from above. Monsignor is older, went through a serious surgery recently, and is personally devastated by the losses. The parish is very large, and parishioners tend to be wealthy and somewhat ill-catechized. The rectory has received serious threats, and as my brother gave the homily Sunday at the noon mass, the church had to be evacuated by SWAT teams. After experiencing identity theft and online hacking incidents, he had to erase all of his internet accounts. After a weekend of endless media requests, notifications and vigils with heartbroken families, and little sleep, he now has two wakes and two funerals every day, until the fourth Sunday of Advent. Father Luke has not even been ordained two years.

My large family has been trying to send Father Luke our love and support from afar, and one of my brothers was able to visit with him briefly a couple times. All he asks for is prayer.

I have been wracking my brain, trying to think of a way that our beautiful, loving community could tangibly reach out to Father Luke, Monsignor Weiss, and the St. Rose parish, to support them in this most awful of times. I have sent many prayer requests, and I am asking for more prayers again. But I also want to ask everyone to search their hearts, and if the Holy Spirit moves you, please consider sending one of your family's Christmas cards to the rectory, with a few words of love and encouragement. Here is his address:

Father Luke Suarez

46 Church Hill Road

Newtown, CT 06470

My brother has said over and over again that without the prayer support he is receiving, he could not keep going. And this week is only the beginning. Everyone there is still in shock. Their peaceful home has been desecrated by violence. They will need to live with this sorrow forever.

But in our weakness is His strength. Grace abounds. Can you help me carry him through this time of trial?

On a hopeful note, Father Luke did say that no media coverage has even touched the deep, beautiful awakening of faith that has occurred there. Their tiny church, where my children have received sacraments and where Luke was ordained, has been full of people in prayer without ceasing since this tragedy happened. Love is stronger than death.

Please feel free to share the address with your family, friends, and community. An outpouring of love will sustain these good priests through their impossible ministry--impossible on their own, but possible with God.

I am so grateful to live in this community. We are all so blessed with one another. Every day, I see you all loving one another as Christ loved. Thank you for letting me reach out to you now.

With humble appreciation,

Tabitha

Shelly

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow.....

 We have been in Breckenridge for a few days celebrating our family Christmas. There has been ~ 20 inches of snow......

 Isn't this a fun image?  It is by Impression Obsession. I used a Technique Junkies technique from the new newsletter called Brayer Strips. I added clear embossed snowflakes in the background.

Challenges:
Creative Belli- Christmas- use something > 6 mos old-snowflake image
The House that Stamps Built- Two shades of Blue
Simon Says Stamp- Merry Christmas
Celebrate the Occasion- Christmas Anything Goes
{Pin}spirational- Inspirational Picture

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Oriental Stamp Art challenge 203

The challenge is to use Asian Script on the background.

  I had fun using a Technique Junkies technique called Brown Bag and used a Chinese newspaper instead. The image is About Art Accents and is on sale now : ) and is colored with Copic markers. I added the Washi paper to the background and the red Asian script for accents.

Challenges:
 365 Cards-  Rough and Smooth


Thanks for stopping by!
 Shelly

Sweet Stamps- Cracked Glass

There is a new monthly challenge at Sweet Stamps Challenge in addition to our weekly challenges. We are focusing on Techniques each 15th of each month- and our 12/15-1/14 technique challenge is to make a card.using the Cracked Glass technique.

 I needed a Non-Christmas card, so I went with a floral image. I sponged Shades dye ink onto the card stock, stamped the image with Memento Black Tuxedo ink. Next, I applied UTEE and heated it- put the panel in the freezer for ~ 20 minutes, then when I removed it from the freezer, bended it and it cracked. I rubbed Brownie Shades Ink over the cracked areas to highlight them a bit.
  I added stitching around the outer edge. I also added Candi brads painted with Creative Inspirations paint.  To finish off the card, I had to try an Tiny Tiny bow like my Kendra always does on her cards.....  : )

Here are the Sweet Stamps products I used on my card:
Image - Queen's Anne's Wildflower Silhouette HERE
Shades Die Ink (sentiment) HERE Sand and Brownie
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink  HERE
Nellie Snellen- Multi Frame Oval Die set HERE
Marianne Designs -Ribbon Border Die 103 HERE
Authentique Genuine Designer Paper HERE
Candi Brads HERE
Double Line Tape HERE
Creative Inspirations Paint- Burnt Sienna HERE

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! Please note- there is a limit of 10 challenges for each entry.The winner is chosen by Random.org- so everyone has a chance to win!

 Stop by the Sweet Stamps Challenge Blog HERE to see what the rest of the DT has created for the Challenge or click on the links below.

Sweet Stamps Design Team:

*   Bonnie  *  Calypso *
 * Dawn B  *   Jacki   *  Joni 

                                     *  Kendra  *  Linda                                             

                                          *  Shelly  (you are here)  *  Tamara  * 

Challenges:
DRS Designs- Ribbon
Color Throwdown- Color challenge
Twisted Tuesday- Use Multiples (candy brads) and use stitching
Craft Your Passion- Stitching
Created with Love- Birthday card and Things with Wings

Thanks for stopping by!
 Shelly

Oriental Stamp Art Sketch 202

 In the Oriental Stamp Art Yahoo Group, the weekly challenge this week is a sketch.

Here is Sketch #202 we were given:

  So, I flipped the sketch and made more cording on the top. I used gold lantern stickers that were RAK'd to me by a fellow OSA member Carla. I used double sided sticky tape- placed the stickers on the tape, burnished on Glitter Ritz in Cool Highlights. You can color with Copic Markers over Glitter Ritz, so that is what I did. I layered that over Washi paper (RE240) from Stonehouse Stamps.
  I will be sending this card to my daughter who is teaching in China- our first year apart for Christmas.... and my first Oriental themed Christmas card.

Challenges:
Christmas at Sweet Stampin- Anything Goes
Crafting for all seasons- Green, Red and Sparkle
Anything Goes Challenge- Traditional Christmas Colors
Ribbon Carousel- The Holidays
Top Tip Tuesday- Christmas
Eureka Stamps- Sparkle and Shine
Make it Monday- Anything Goes
Paper Playtime- Christmas Colors
Unstampabelles- Christmas

Thanks for stopping by! Shelly

Sweet Stamps- Sparkle andBling

The Sweet Stamps Challenge this week is Sparkle and Bling

  The image is stamped and embossed with White EP, and colored using a Technique Junkies technique from the latest newsletter- Mono Markers.  The Coordinations cardstock was embossed with the dots EP and sanded and Sakura Gelly Roll Pen colored on the sanded dots for sparkle. The Striped designer paper is by Authentique- the pad has the musical strip at the top of each strip. I embellished the corners with a Cheery Lynn corner die. I added rhinestones for some bling. The sparkly Poisin Ivy cardstock behind the candles is a little off white and very shimmery. I added more gold sparkle with a Spica Glitter Pen in Gold. 

Here are the Sweet Stamps products I used on my card:
Poinsettia Candles HERE
Merry Christmas Script Sentiment HERE
Shades Die Ink Valentine HERE 
Fantasy White Detail EP HERE
Distress Clear Embossing Ink HERE
Spica Glitter pen HERE
Sakura Stardust Gelly Roll Pen HERE
Double Line Tape HERE
Coordinations Cardstock Classy Reds  HERE
Embossing Folder SPOTS HERE
Authentique- Festive HERE


Cheery Lynn Corner Die Lace Corner Deco E set HERE
Rhinestones Silver HERE

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! Please note- there is a limit of 10 challenges for each entry.The winner is chosen by Random.org- so everyone has a chance to win!

***Don't forget our Monthly Technique Challenge- November challenge- suspension cards HERE -

This is the last week to get your card in!

 Stop by the Sweet Stamps Challenge Blog HERE to see what the rest of the DT has created for the Challenge or click on the links below.

Sweet Stamps Design Team:

*   Bonnie  *  Calypso *
 * Dawn B  *   Jacki   *  Joni 

                                     *  Kendra  *  Linda                                             

                                          *  Shelly  (you are here)  *  Tamara  * 

Challenges:
Make it Monday- Anything Goes
Sunday Sketch and Stamp- Sketch
Christmas Card Challenges- Die Cuts- I used corner dies
Dream Valley- Christmas
365 Cards- Day 280- Stripes
Just Us Girls-Embossing
Speedy and Friends- Christmas Card- Red and Green

As always- I so appreciate you stopping by! 
Shelly

Michael Strong Challenge

Michael Strong has a Yahoo Group that I belong to- and we have a monthly challenge that I rarely get to play along with.  Well, on HIS BLOG, Michael  posted a Tree silhouette for us to use to create a card.

   I am trying to get more Christmas cards done, so had to take the challenge!  I imported the Tree Silhouette into my Make the Cut program, and cut it out in 4 different sizes. Before I cut it out, I took a number of green stamp pads and applied the ink DTP.
  I Sponged on ink to the white cardstock and added stickles. On the trees, I stippled on Creative Inspirations Fairy Dust paint. I punched out the deer from an old MS punch. The Sentiment is Sweet Stamps. The star is hand cut.

Challenges:
Michael Strong- use Tree image on a card
Bloggers Challenge- Make a Scene
Craft a Scene- Winter Scene

Thanks for stopping by!
 Shelly

Transparency ATC's

My ATC group theme this month was to use Acrylic Transparencies. I figured there would be a ton of shaker cards, but there were none! Mine were all the same, but many of the ladies make their ATC's all different.
First, we do a 1-4-1 exchange -which is a separate ATC swap.

  I used a Sweet Stamps butterfly image to stamp with Stazon on the transparency. Next, I added Crystal effects and glitter to the back. I added rhinestones colored in Copic marker to adorn the butterfly.  The background is a Technique Junkies techniquefrom CD10 : )  That is River Rock CS  on the back.

This is the 1-4-1 ATC by Marcie that I drew:

  The image is stamped on cardstock and colored, then the transparency was placed over it- clever idea!

My transparency swap :

 They are all the same, but the colors were a touch different. I used a Technique Junkies technique called Distressed Glue on the background. The stamps are by I Brake for Stamps- Embossing Arts line (it is a cube of stamps). The middle portion is cut out, and the transparency is placed behind the opening.  I adhered the coffee cup to the center of the acetate, then filled in a circle of Glass Bead Gel. Depending on how thick you apply it, it dries clear (if applied thinly) and a little white still in it if it is a bit thicker.  I took a skewer and made the swirls in the Gel before it dried obviously.
 Glass Bead Gel by Golden can be found at Dick Blick.

Here are all of the trades:

Carol took a picture in a subway in London- this is Queen Elizabeth in her younger years. (This was hanging by a poster of the queen that is more recent-Carol had both.....).  Carol pointed out that there was a kiss mark on the Queen's cheek- I imagine by a worker that put the poster up. The transparency is the photo corner(s).
the back of her ATC:

 This background steampunk embossing folder (keys) is also from London.

  This ATC is by Cindy- the transparency is over the snowflakes

This stunner is by Diane M.  The trees are silver embossed and then Alcohol inks applied to the back of the transparency.

 Diane S. made this fun AATC- the Penguins are stamped on the transparency and it is colored on the back with Copic Markers.

 Harriet made this fun ATC- the transparency covers the front and has shimmery glitter around the edges.

 Mary made this ATC- it is beautifully done- the bottom panel with the sentiment is see through.

 This fun scene is by Trena- it is a transparency panel that you lift up- and the top is covered- as you can see- with snowflakes!

Debbie made a collage ATC with TH Christmas papers.

Harriet made us an angel 'pull' - all a little different- they were all wrapped- how beautifully done!!!

 Here is the back of the ATC panel:

We spent a little time putting card fronts onto card blanks for the soldiers- we made somewhere around 300 cards!  Many hands makes light work : )

*******************************************************************************

 Here is a picture of all of the different stages of the drying Glass Bead Gel.


I would like to enter my 2 ATC's into a few challenges:
Flutter By Wednesday- Butterfly
Wicked Wednesday ATC's- Wing It
Fun with ATC's- Embossing- the swirls are embossed in the Glass Bead Gel
Tuesday Alchemy- Anything but a card
ABC Challenge- Clear it out- Glass Bead Gel has not been used since last Dec.....

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Sweet Stamps- Winter Greenery

The Sweet Stamps Challenge this week is Winter Greenery.

 I colored the image with Copics and added a highlight of Sakura Gelly Roll Pen. The center of the Poinsettia I used clear glass microbeads with Copic YR24 that I colored on the side of the glass bowl to stain them. For cardstock,  I started out with a white background, and it was too stark, so I painted a thin layer of Carmel Creative Inspirations paint on the layer behind the Poinsettia- Oohhh the shimmer.  I used silver metallic thread in my sewing machine for the 'ornament hanger' and to outline the card. The greenery is a Cheery Lynn Die called Pine Branches Die.The Christmas Patterned Paper is by Bo Bunny.

Here are the Sweet Stamps products I used on my card:
Image-Poinsettia Bold HERE
Holly Leaf HERE
Cheery Lynn Pine Branches Die HERE
Creative Inspirations Paint -Carmel HERE
Double Line Tape HERE
Coordinations Cardstock Classy Reds (Poinsettia) HERE
Bo Bunny Father Christmas HERE
Nellie Snellen Eastern Rectangle Die HERE
Copic Markers- Sets- Tea Rose, Rosy Reds, Victorian Green, Harvest Gold HERE
Sakura Gelly Roll Pen-Stardust- HERE
Micro Beads HERE



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! Please note- there is a limit of 10 challenges for each entry.The winner is chosen by Random.org- so everyone has a chance to win!

***Don't forget our Monthly Technique Challenge- November challenge- suspension cards HERE

 Stop by the Sweet Stamps Challenge Blog HERE to see what the rest of the DT has created for the Challenge or click on the links below.

Sweet Stamps Design Team:

*   Bonnie  *  Calypso *
 * Dawn B  *   Jacki   *  Joni 

                                     *  Kendra  *  Linda                                             

                                          *  Shelly  (you are here)  *  Tamara  * 

Challenges:
Make it Monday- Anything Goes
Oozak- Anything Goes plus Red
Amusing Challenges- Die Cut
Fashionable Stamping Challenge- To Die For
Cheery Lynn Designs- Happy Holidays
Bloggers Challenge- All Stitched Up
4 Crafty Chicks- Ornament
Moving Along with the Times- Three things that start with the same letter- Poinsettia, Pine Needle die and Paint

As always- I so appreciate you stopping by! 
Shelly

Fun news

I have some fun (and exciting news).  I have joined the Technique Junkies Design Team!  I know there are tons of really talented designers out there- so it makes me a little nervous, but I do live and breathe TJ's while I am creating : )

 The Dec/Jan newsletter is now on-line for subscribers. It is always fun to try the new techniques. This is called Inked Shadows.  I am giving this card to a friend today- I hope she likes it!
  Everything I used to make this card is from Stampin Up. I used the 'old' color coach for the colors I used- at first I said really?  But, I think it turned out OK........

Challenges:
Fun with Shapes and more- Anything but Christmas
Hotshot Crafts- Butterflies
Do You Stack Up- Thanks (This is a Thank You card)
Creative Belli- Thanks/Gratitude (This is a Thank You card)
Flutter By Wednesdays- Butterfly or Fairy

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly