Chalkboard Plum Blossom

I made a card using the New Technique Junkies Chalkboard tutorial . This was a fun technique- you have to try it!

The image is by Art Neko- and is by an artist from the city my daughter is teaching in- Shenzhen China.

Challenges:
613 Avenue Create- Anything goes- bonus- blossoms
Brown Sugar- Flowers

Thanks for stopping by!
 Shelly

Digital Easter

We finally have a working printer- so I colored while watching basketball the other night, and got a few cards in the mail today! I like to make religious Easter cards, but I also love flowers and bunnies......

 The beautiful floral image a freebie from Glitterbabes and the Sentiment from Create with TLC.
I scored about 1/4 inch from the outside edge for added interest.

 The Vintage Easter egg basket and sentiment are both from Create with TLC.

 I could not resist this darling bunny image from Robins Fetish. I colored with Copic markers. The sentiment is from Create with TLC.

 Another fun Vintage digi scene and sentiment from Create with TLC. I added some background stamping and sprayed some shimmery spray.

 Oh, I could not end without something Pink......I love this egg- I printed twice, and fussy cut the top one. Again- colored with Copics and added a touch of Sakura Gelly Roll Pen. The image is by Robins Fetish and the sentiment is by Create with TLC.

I hope you have a Blessed Easter!!!

Shelly

Sweet Stamps- Easter

The Sweet Stamps Challenge this week is Easter

 I made a card and an ATC with the cross image. On the card, I stamped the cross on white cardstock and colored it with Copics. The frame is stamped on Vellum, embossed with white EP and colored with Copics. The flowers from the frame were stamped again on white cardstock and on scraps from my last project with the Transparent Microfine glitter.

The ATC uses the cross in Vellum and colored with Copics. I used Ranger Distress inks in Purple on the cardstock  and then embossed with the Dots embossing folder.

Here are the Sweet Stamps products I used on my card:
Flowery Frame HERE

Cross (small) HERE 
Blessed Easter Sentiment HERE
Microfine Transparent Glitter HERE
2 1/2" Super Sticky Adhesive tape HERE
Distress Ink clear Embossing Ink HERE 
Detail White EP HERE
Black Memento Tuxedo ink HERE
Shades Die Ink Forget-Me-Not HERE

Copic Markers-Sketch sets HERE

Double Line Tape HERE
Embossing Folder HERE
Vellum HERE
Coordinations cardstock Lavenders 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!

****We also have a monthly challenge from began 2/15-3/14- Wax paper Resist 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- Always Anything Goes- and a fabulous place to discover some great papercrafters!
ABC Challenge- Easter
Kaboodle Doodles Challenge- Easter
Pile it On- Dots
The Squirrel and the Fox- Easter or Passover
2 Sisters- Easter


Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

SCS Try that Technique-Monochromatic

 For the Try that Technique at Splitcoast Stampers today, the theme is Monochromatic Madness. 

I have an entry for the challenge- I do not always get to play, so am thrilled!

 This is called Block Filled and - you guessed it- it is a Technique Junkies Technique. The cute elephant image is Michael Strong Stamps. The sentiment is from a retired set from Firecracker Designs.

Challenges
365 Cards- Times Up ( 20 min or less to create)
Ohh La La- It's a Man Thing
Stamps and Fun- Monochrome
The Pink Elephant- CAS

This is my daughter on a recent trip to Thialand:

Have a great day!
Shelly

UnRuly Glue ATC's

 Unruly PaperArts E-Zine is featuring ATCs this month (aka: formerly known as Gingersnaps).  I am joining in and showing how to create backgrounds for ATCs using glue as a resist.

 I first learned the technique of using glue as a resist in the Technique Junkies Newsletter (Distressed Glue Oct/Nov 2010 issue).

Supplies: School Glue - I used Elmers. PVC glue will also work.
White cardstock- I used Georgia Pacific- any cardstock will work- you can also used colored cardstock.

First you will apply glue to the white cardstock- use your creativity!  Here is how I added the glue:
Top row Lt to Rt- draw "U's" in rows, circle swirls, plain dots, dab on a dot onto the ATC and smear side to side with the end of your finger
Bottom row Lt to Rt- draw little circles, draw lines top to bottom and the zig zag side to side, random loose circles, the bottom one has waves at the bottom and clouds at the top.
 *You may need to gently swipe over the top of the background once you have applied color- carefully with a very slightly moistened paper towel or a baby wipe*. 

  More ideas- add a little glue to your fingers and swipe over bubble wrap. lay over the cardstock.
 Add a layer of glue drawn on in a grid over the top of another pattern- on the orange sample- you can see the side to side pattern under the grid.
Bottom row Lt- I used my fingers to add glue to a Rogue Redhead background stamp and stamped the glue on.
Bottom row middle and Rt ATC's on the  bottom row- I ran the cardstock through the Big Shot/Cuttlebug, then added glue to the raised embossing. Let it dry. Run the ATC background back through the embossing machine with NO embossing folder as many times as it takes to flatten down the embossing- add shims if necessary. When you add the Distress Inks, the glue will resist it and you will still have the embossing folder design on your cardstock.

 Take a punch and make a pattern- use a small strip of cardstock.  Apply the glue- beginning at the top through the hearts and move towards the bottom. Let it dry- apply distress inks.

 
I did try some backgrounds where I applied ink thickly and made patterns either with the glue or with different objects with uneven edges- these backgrounds are also cool- you cannot stamp images directly on those backgrounds because of the texture, but you could stamp an image and fussy cut it out and apply it to the ATC as an additional layer.

Here are some samples of ATC's made with some of the backgrounds shown above. All images by Rogue Redhead Stamps and all ink on the backgrounds is Ranger Distress Ink.

 The image is white embossed over the dot.bubble wrap background.

  I hope you enjoyed seeing how to use glue as a resist on ATC's- it would work on card backgrounds, Scrapbook pages and Art Journal pages as well.  I would love to see what you create!

Shelly Schmidt
http://shellymc2.blogspot.com/

Happy Birthday to You.......

I joined a small RAK group for Birthdays on RubberStampChat- we make one ATC a month - sometimes two..for birthdays- and most of the time they come with a card too.....  Here is my latest duo:

  I had an extra of this Sweet Stamps image on my desk, with an added sentiment- and this Prima DP  paper was a perfect accent.

I missed the recipients birthday- even though the requirement is just to get it there within the birthday month, it is always nice to get it there by the day of the actual Birthday celebration.......

I offset the cupcakes and added some $1.00 Target Spot ribbon I have had for AGES and some German Scrap.  I colored the images with Copics and added Sparkle with the Gelly roll pen. The sentiment is a retired SU set. I added distressing by DTP with brown ink.

**If you like to make ATC's- stop back tomorrow for an UNRULY PaperArts article on Glue ATC's**
(Unruly was formerly Gingersnaps).

Challenges for my card:
613 Avenue Create- Anything Goes
Catered Crop- Flower Power
Fab n Funky- Pink, Green and Brown

Thanks for stopping by!
 Shelly

Oriental Stamp Art Butterfly Swap

 The Oriental Stamp Art Yahoo Group is very active for Mingles and Swaps.  I just received a Butterfly Swap I participated in- Here are the cards:

 I stamped the Butterfly image from About Art Accents, and colored it with Copics. I cut out the center image and layered it over a duplicate image- the top layer is popped up on dimensionals.The BG paper is red with Gold shimmer- it looks orange in the picture....The image has Stardust Gelli Roll pen added for accent.
How I cut out the center- I make templates of all of my die cuts:

 When I need to cut out a specific size, I can use the templates and do not have to guess.......

  Here is a picture of how easy it is to place the die over the image, I use a post it note to place the die just where I want it so it will stay in place (and I cannot find removable double sided tape anywhere), and cut it out- viola....done.....!
 You can see in picture #1 how I store my dies- a hard plastic DVD case with a magnet sheet that fits perfectly inside.

 Now, here are the wonderful Butterfly cards I received in return:

 This card was made by Sabine V

  This card was made by Mary R.

 This card was made by Sonia I.
Check out the inside:

And, one more:

 This card was made by Emilie Boyd.

 On another note- since Google reader is 'going away' July 1, I signed up at Bloglovin- I'd love it if you would come follow me- and let me know if you are there too, so I can continue to follow you there as well.

 

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Sweet Stamps- Crosses

The Sweet Stamps Challenge this week is Crosses.

   I got out the Microfine Transparent glitter again. I am very fond of being able to stamp on it and to color the glitter with Copics.
  I applied the Microfine Transparent glitter to my prepared paper- and the stamped the  Stained Glass Frame first, then added the cross in the center of the frame.I colored with Copics, then trimmed the edge of the image- leaving a border to add a yellow Copic border. (HERE is my post with the instructions for preparing your paper).
  The Coordinations Cardstock was sanded where it was embossed- you can see the white core peeking through. I added a final accent using a shimmery Silver Lustre cardstock from Paper Temptress using the Cheery Lynn corner die.

Here are the Sweet Stamps products I used on my card:
Stained Glass Frame HERE
Cross (small) HERE
Microfine Transparent Glitter HERE
2 1/2" Super Sticky Adhesive tape HERE
Black Memento Tuxedo ink HERE
Copic Markers-Sketch sets HERE

Double Line Tape HERE
Embossing Folder HERE
Coordinations cardstock (Brilliant Blues) HERE
Cheery Lynn corner die 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!

****We also have a monthly challenge from began 2/15-3/14- Wax paper Resist 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- Always Anything Goes- and a fabulous place to discover some great papercrafters!
Lia Stampz Challenge- Easter/Spring
Gem of a Challenge- Easter or Spring
Color Me Creative- Spring Colors
Creative Creations Challenge- 'B' -Blue, Bling
Cutie Pie Challenge- Easter
Sparkle and Sprinkle- Use Glitter
Pink Elephant- Easter

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Sweet Stamps- Wax Paper Resist-Monthly Challenge

The Sweet Stamps Monthly Challenge is Wax Paper Resist.

  I had fun playing with this challenge. For this first card, I embossed the wax paper in the Dots embossing folder. I ironed it on glossy paper after stamping the Aster floral image. I colored the image with Ranger Distress markers- same colors as the ink plus green Shabby Shutters.  I added the Pink Ranger Distress Inks with a sponge.

 On my 2nd card, I tried something different. I cut out a Joy Crafts die and also crumpled up a 'strip' of wax paper. I placed both on the glossy cardstock and ironed them on after stamping the image. I sponged on Purple Distress inks. How fun, huh?  I added some glitz with a Sakura Stardust Gelly Roll pen and Rhinestones colored with a Copic marker.

Here are the Sweet Stamps products I used on my card:
Aster floral image HERE
Especially for You sentiment HERE
In Her Easter Bonnet Silhouette image HERE
Spots Embossing Folder HERE
Ranger Distress Ink- HERE  Pinks: Spun Sugar and Worn Lipstick; Purples: Dusty Concord and Milled Lavender.
Ranger Distress Markers HERE
Coordinations Cardstock- HERE  Pink: Heartfelt and Purple: Purple Majesty and Izmir Purple.
Memento Tuxedo Black ink HERE
Double Line Tape HERE
Joy Crafts French Lilly Corner Die HERE
Cheery Lynn Dancing Doily Lace border Die (purple card) HERE
Pearls HERE
Rhinestones HERE
Sakura Stardust Glitter Gelly Roll Pen HERE

Come Join US!!!  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!

****We also have a weekly challenge **** Stop by and play along : )

 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!


Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Sweet Stamps- St Patrick's Day

The Sweet Stamps Challenge this week is St Patrick's Day:

  I stamped the image and sentiment, embossed it with Fantasy Gold embossing Powder. I colored the fun leprechaun with Copic Markers.I used Copic Texturizing -a Technique Junkies technique- on the clothes and the beer mug.

 My Dad is 100 % Irish!  Here is a little FAQ- did you know in the old days- newspaper gossip columnists used to go to the bars and would get alot of 'scoop' there. The bar serves beer in Pints and Quarts....so that is where, "Mind your P's and Q's came from! 

Here are the Sweet Stamps products I used on my card:
Leprechaun Image HERE
Irish Blessing Sentiment HERE
Copic Markers-Sketch sets HERE
Ranger clear embossing ink HERE
Fantasy Gold EP HERE

Double Line Tape HERE
Embossing Folder Spots HERE
Nellie Snellen Multi Frame Oval Die HERE
Cheery Lynn Celtic Chain Die HERE
Bo Bunny DP- Father Christmas (bottom) and Vicki (top)  HERE
Stickles HERE
Rhinestones HERE

I want to share how I made the oval with the sentiment panel:

 I make templates with all of my die sets (I am very visual....)

OK- so looks like the sentiment fits, but to check and make sure it really will, I hold the template and the embossed panel up to the window:

 You could also use a light box for this part. Yep- it will work : ) 

I made a template of just the oval portion and cut it out..... Then, I will reposition and then cut out the sentiment. I save the oval portion in my template set for the next time I want to do this.

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!

****We also have a monthly challenge from began 2/15-3/14- Triple Stamping HERE  ****Note this challenge ends this week****

 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!
Make My Monday- Heat Embossing
The Pink Elephant- St Patrick's Day (use Green)
There She Goes- Shades of Green
Amusing Challenges- Beer/Rootbeer/wine
Sentimental Sundays- Use three  embellishments that start with a B- 'bling x's 3' used three- EP, rhinestones and stickles

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Oriental Stamping Art- color Mingle

 The OSA Yahoo group has a monthly color mingle- make a Black and White card + one other color- this month the plus one color is Blue.

 This card is made with Twinkling H2Os using a technique from the Technique Junkies called Angels Breath.  I used a dragonfly sticker and Microfine transparent glitter- then colored it with Copics and cut it out.  The foilage and Kanji stamps are by Stonehouse Stamps (plate #3). I added a little white gel pen for dimension on the foilage.

Here is the card I recieved from my Mingle partner Barb I. :

Love the Washi Paper Barb used!

 Challenges for my dragonfly card:
Crafting when we Can-  Earth, Air, Fire and Water
Quirky Crafts- Make your own Background
Corrosive Challenge- All that Glitters
Addicted to CAS- Wings

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Mother and Daughter fun : )

 On a recent visit to my parents home, my Mom and I had some crafty fun coloring with Copic markers- it was Mom's first time- and she went to town!

 This is my card- it is for a March Birthday for a stamping friend- we make ATC's for B-days and I always have to make a card too.......  I colored this image at home- it is from D2D which is now called From the Heart Stamps. I was inspired by a Blog Friend Paige : )

 I will enter a couple of challenges:
From the Heart Stamps-  SOTM challenge
Tuesday Morning Sketches- The Sketch
Crafting for all Seasons- Spring
Oldie But a Goodie- Flowers - used DP from last year and flower from a Blog candy from last year
Shopping our Stash- Use a border punch
{Pin}spirational- Photo inspiration- I used Purple : )
Basic Gray- Anything Goes

Here is the ATC I sent with the card:

 Image is also by D2D

And, here is the card my Mom made- she did this using just the limited supplies I had with me- isn't it fabulous?

 Image is D2D and Sentiment is Sweet and Sassy.

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Sweet Stamps- Green

The Sweet Stamps Challenge this week is Green:

  I used a newly released image from Sweet Stamps from the Little Sweeties line called Tristin and Elizabeth. It brings me back a few years- I have boy/girl twins that are now 24 years old : ) I used to try to coordinate their clothes- this reminds me of the days of OshKosh overalls.......
  I stamped the image and colored with Copic Markers. I added glitz with Sakura

Here are the Sweet Stamps products I used on my card:
Little Sweetie- Tristin and Elizabeth HERE
Thinking of You sentiment HERE
Copic Markers-Sketch sets HERE
Memento Tuxedo Black ink HERE
Double Line Tape HERE
Embossing Folder Damask HERE
Nellie Snellen Multi Frame Circle Die HERE
Cheery Lynn Carnivale Die HERE
Authentique Festive DP HERE
Stickles HERE
Rhinestones 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!

****We also have a monthly challenge from began 2/15-3/14- Triple Stamping 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- Always Anything Goes- and a fabulous place to discover some great papercrafters!
ABC Challenges- Anything goes
Eureka Stamps- use 2 of something - 2 DP's (plain green, green dotted), 2 dies, 2 kids : ) 
Love to Create- Use 2 of something- 2 dies (border die behind main die), 2 DP's, 2 stamps
613 Avenue Cards- Anything goes + Tac Tac Toe- Bling, Green, Ribbon
One Stitch at a Time- Green
Hiding in My Craft Room- Green

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Mosaic ATC swap

For my monthly ATC swap, we traded with the theme of Mosaics.
This month, my ATC group created with a Mosiac theme- we start with a 1-4-1 swap:



 I colored the ATC white (blank) with a Copic, then added dots in two darker colors.I cut up the pieces, then painted over the ATC with Modge Podge.  I was going to make a few of these, but one ATC took three hours, so I changed my thinking..... : )

The 1-4-1 I rec'd back:

 This was made by Debbie.

Ok- here are the rest of the swap cards I made:

 I made these with TJ techniques cut into squares, then placed for a diamond looking pattern.  The purple is done with Twinkling H2O's and the gold is Hair Spray and Pearl-Ex. The cross was a digi I found on Pintrest.

 I made another sheet of copic colored in Pink (R83) and added dots in 2 darker colors (R85 and R89).  I then cut out the heart and made the strip with an added flower from my unused stash. The white background is from Panara Bread : )

 This is Basic Gray DP and the tiny butterfly is a die from Cheery Lynn Designs and is from another shimmery TJ technique- a UFO.

 I had a couple of sheets of a glossy technique that I cut into different shapes, then added on the flowers and die cuts from Cheery Lynn- again from a shimmery TJ UFO from my stash.

 Here are the ATC's I received back:

Lt- Linda and Rt Diane M.

Lt Diane S. and Rt Mary W.

Lt Cindy and Rt Mari- you cannot see the shimmer on the egg ATC.

Lt Carol (the vellum lifts up and there is a fun design and jewels) and Harriet.

A couple of extra's- Mary shared a madri Gras ATC with me- she made this with watercolor paper and shaped it by spritzing it with a little water. The eyes are cut from magazines. 

Mary also shared this Valentine ATC with me:

 And one more Debbie shared:

Next month for me- the theme is journaling- not sure what I will come up with. We are also going to make a Chunky ATC...... and can only use supplies from our stash : )

***If you make ATC's- check out the month long ATC theme at Unruly Paper Arts- formerly Gingersnaps***

Thanks for stopping by!
 Shelly