Sweet Stamps- Christmas Greenery

The challenge at Sweet Stamps for this week is Christmas Greenery.

 I created a card for this challenge by using a portion of an image-using the Poinsettia's- from the Poinsettia Candles and the image Jackie's Basket and Bow duo. I used the basket to add a little depth to the green cardstock for the background. 
  I stamped them using a Shades Spot and colored them with Copics.  I am on the road- and have supplies with me to create- and I forgot the black ink I generally use with Copics.  I was thrilled the waterproof Shades Spot worked beautifully with no running for me!
 I fussy cut the flowers, sniped into the leaves of the flowers for dimension and added Wink of Stella to the centers of the flowers and on the edges of the bow.

Products I used from the Sweet Stamps Store:

Jackie's Basket & Bow DUO	Poinsettia Candles	Cardinal Pair & Warm Wishes DUO 3059J	French Roast Ink Spot	Nightfall Ink Spot	Peapod Ink Spot
Wink of Stella Brush Marker	Copic Sketch Markers

InLinkz.com

We have a weekly challenge and a monthly technique challenge. The monthly challenge 7/15-8/14 is Parchment Crafting. Our winners are chosen by Random.org- and if you use a Sweet Stamps image, your entry will count x's 2!

Sweet Stamps has a Pintrest board HERE

Sweet Stamps has a Facebook group HERE

Challenges:
Crafting From the Heart- Anything Goes
Craftin Desert Diva's- Christmas in July
Lexi's Creation- Christmas in July
Love to Scrap- Scheming colors- Traditional Christmas colors
Scrapbook Stamp Society- Anything Goes + Christmas in July E#2

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Card Mania- Vacation /travel

The challenge for the next two weeks at Card Mania is Vacation/travel. I am joining the team for the challenge as a Guest Designer.

  The challenge Sponsor is Simply B stamps.   I chose Water Balloon London for my card.
There is nothing better to me than heading to the beach on a lazy day! To add to the fun- a water balloon fight- and where I am from, we put them in a cooler for the added shock of cold water when you get hit by one!
 The image is colored with Copic Markers. I used DP I found at a discount store in a scrapbook pack- a few years ago.... and I used Sentiments from Create with TLC. The main panel die and tag die are both from Cheery Lynn Designs.

Challenges:
613 Avenue Create- AG + Use a Sentiment
Cheery Lynn Designs- Hot Time in the Summer
Crafty Calender- Summertime Fun
Open-Minded Crafting- Vacation
Waltzingmouse Fanatics- Color challenge

Thanks for stopping by! Shelly

Foo Dog

The Technique Junkies June/July newsletter gave us one more thing to do with our Inka paints- called Inka Gold Stamping.

 I stamped in Gold on red and used DP that was gifted to me : )

 Images all Mark's Finest Papers.

Thanks for stopping by!
 Shelly

Sweet Stamps- Christmas Tag

I always like to try new and different things, so for the tag challenge at Sweet Stamps, I took out a stencil and lite modeling paste, and here is the tag I created!

 I was so thrilled to see stencils in the Sweet Stamps store!  I used distress inks dabbed onto the craft mat, spritzed with water and dipped the tag into it one color at a time.  I dried the tag between each color with the heat gun. Next, I applied light modeling paste over the stencil to create the fun background on this tag. I sponged on Faded Jeans color over the modeling paste.  I added a couple of SweetCuts dies and snowflakes from Globecraft and Piccolo using Turquoise Lagoon Enamel embossing powder.

 I wanted to point out- the enamel adhesive has a dauber top- so you can sponge it around the edge of your project, dip the edges of your card/tag/chipboard...etc  in the powder and it will stick and you can emboss the edges for a special finishing look.

 I used seam binding to finish the top of the tag. I tapped the ink onto the craft mat, spritzed it with water and put the ribbon in the wet ink.  Perfect color on the ribbon to match the colors in the tag!

Products I used making my Tag:

Distress Ink Pad SALTY OCEAN	Distress Ink Pad BROKEN CHINA	Distress Ink Pad FADED JEANS	Distress Ink Pad ANTIQUE LINEN	Brilliant STENCIL	Elegant Leaves SweetCuts Die
Classy Deer SweetCuts Die	Core'dinations Sandy Tans	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad	Merry Christmas Script	Snowflake Accents	Enamel Embossing Powder Adhesive
Enamel EP TURQUOISE LAGOON	Silver Rhinestones

InLinkz.comNo D
We have a weekly challenge and a monthly technique challenge. The monthly challenge 7/15-8/14 is Parchment Crafting. Our winners are chosen by Random.org- and if you use a Sweet Stamps image, your entry will count x's 2!

Sweet Stamps has a Pintrest board HERE

Sweet Stamps has a Facebook group HERE

Challenges:
Crafters Cafe- Anything Goes
Crafting for all Seasons- Christmas in July
Inky Impressions- No DP
Little Red Wagon- Christmas in July
Simon Says Stamp- Embossing
Sisterhood of Crafters- Diecuts/punches
Die Cutting Diva's- Die Cut/Christmas in July
Papertake Weekly- It's a Jolly Holiday
Sparkles Monthly Challenges- Christmas in July
Lexi's Creation- Christmas in July
Scrapbook Society Society- Christmas in July
Sparkle & Sprinkle- AG using embossing powder, glitter or flocking
Come and Get It- Christmas in July
Corrosive Challenge- Christmas in July
My Sheri Crafts- Christmas in July
Winter Wonderland- Blue Christmas

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Tuesday Throwdown- Handmade flowers

 We are making handmade flowers this week at Tuesday Throwdown. 

Our sponsor for this challenge is Flourish with a Bling

 I used a SU sentiment and SU (retired) DSP .The cardstock is Vanilla and Perfect Plum, and the ink is also Perfect Plum. I used 2 dies from Cheery Lynn Designs- Small and Med roses- I think it is the first time I have used them! I cut the flowers out of the DSP. The butterfly is also a Cheery Lynn die and it is cut out of a shimmery Technique Junkies scrap.

Challenges:
Eureka Stamps- Monochrome
Love to Scrap- Monochromatic
Crazy Challenge- Dies or Punches  (the roses and butterflies are also dies)
Lacy Sunshine- Flowers
Frosted Designs Friday- Flowers and Stitching


Thanks for stopping by!
 Shelly

Blog Hop with a Difference/Getting to Know Me

 Hello to all my blog friends and wonderful Followers : )

   Please grab a chair once you have your tea or coffee ready .... I would like to tell you a little about my creative self : )

I was tagged by Penny Mull to participate in this hop......Penny has the most fabulous cards- she uses lots of gorgeous dies and has wonderful (awesome) coloring skills. She also surprises you every now and then with a CAS card : ) She also does fab write ups - she is a foodie and tells you all about her adventures eating foods you may have only heard about in the movies : )  She also has a recently retired husband who she keeps fairly busy. I tease her and say she should get up late at night and break stuff so she has more time to create while he is fixing them...

 

  Anyway, I have always been creative- rubber stamping is just the latest obsession- for 10 or so years now. I joined the Technique Junkies in 2004, and really 'grew up' with techniques being the driving force for my obsession...! I have no formal art training. In fact, I had Prismacolor pencils- a big set for about 6 years before I knew why there are so many gray pencils in it.  I have really learned so much in 10 years!  

  I usually only make ONE of each card- every now and then, I will make two......and I am very slow...rather S-L-O-W at stamping and creating.  Although, it is faster than smocking and sewing dresses...so I have stepped up the pace over the years.

  I have made 2 scrapbooks in the past, but enjoy the immediate gratification of a card that is completed over layouts that take me a day or two to finish one....  (Although I have a trip or two to scrapbook).

 Most of my projects are done with Copic markers and occasionally Prismacolor pencils. I also enjoy Parchment crafting, but do not do that as often as I would like to.

 I started my blog a few years ago when I saw a DT call- I decided it would be a great way to stamp more regularly. I love meeting people from all over the world- as we do in blogland! I have to say, I am visually inspired, so do a little blog hopping (mostly at night) and view some Pintrest for MoJo. I love challenges as well. 

  I belong to a couple of fabulous blogging groups- and highly recommend it to others : )  I joined through the Blogging forum at Splitcoaststampers. One is a group of ladies from all over - mostly the USA, who chat and design cards and inspire and support each other. The other, is a group that chats and posts inspirational cards with Christian themes, and we have a post once a month with a theme. I also belong to a couple of busy Yahoo groups- one is Oriental Stamp Art- where the Inspiration and talent is really a 14 on a 1-10 scale!  The OSA group has tons of swaps and mingles as well. The other Yahoo group is the Technique Junkies.

   I have three children and am an empty nester. I have a daughter that teaches in China- who came home recently for the first time in 2 years...and a son who was in for a week from Colorado.  We all hopped in the car and drove to Mackinac Island last week, so I neglected to follow up and ask ladies to join me in the hop- a few ladies declined and I just did not get back to it- sorry!  Please do hop on over to Penny's blog and check out her fab work though- HERE

My next creative adventure- I bought a piano -used- and I am going to start taking piano lessons. Last year, I took Chinese language lessons- way hard, and since I have taken my trip and do not intend to return to China again (too many other places in the world to see), I am done with language lessons. I can read the top notes, but need to memorize the Lt hand notes..... 

 Please feel free to scroll thru the pages here if you would like to see my creative process.

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Thanks a Latte

 I have been having a busy vacation- Katie is in from China, and Chris is here from Colorado: )  We were able to run up to Michigan and see Stephi- and it was the first time in two years we were all in the same place at the same time!

 I wanted to share a fun card I created with Distress Inks and the Technique Junkies newsletter- this is a fun technique- and I liked putting the colors together- like a puzzle.

  The stamps are from the Embossing Arts line at I Brake for Stamps. I am not a coffee drinker, but enjoy making cards with it for my coffee drinking friends and relatives.

Challenges:
4 Crafty Girls- Anything Goes
Through the Craftroom Door- Anything Goes
Incy Wincy- Strings and Things

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Sweet Stamps- Anything Goes+ Parchment Technique

At Sweet Stamps, we are combining our Monthly challenge- Parchment- with our weekly challenge- Anything Goes : )

 These fun stamps were just released last month and I was itching to ink them up!  I used the antistatic pad over the Parchment vellum and used the Sweet Stamps White Dye ink and White embossing powder on the flowers. I colored with Copics on the back of the vellum, and it gave the flowers a greenish hue, so I colored them again on the front. I pierced around the edges of the vellum as well. I love the soft look of the Parchment vellum.

  The accent pieces are chipboard accents called *GLOBECRAFT & PICCOLO*  by Sweetstamps.com, and I love how detailed they are and easy to emboss using the enamel embossing adhesive- and I love the fab embossing enamels- the colors are so pretty plus they are mixed in with a shimmery/glittery metallic- love the way they look!

Here is a quick look at how quick & easy the Enamel embossing powders are to use- and hope you can see the fab sparkle  )

 Dab the Enamel Embossing Powder Adhesive onto the swirls.

 After gently rolling the powder in the bottle, I pour it over the chipboard using a coffee filter. Can you see how sparkly it is???  I take a piece of the chipboard sheet that is unused after removing the shapes and make a sample and attach it to the top of each of the bottles- you can see this in my adhesive picture above.

Here are the Sweet Stamps products I used this week:

Embossing Pal Anti-Static Pouch	Parchment Craft Vellum PCV25	White Dye Ink Pad for Parchment Crafting	White EP	Live Laugh Love Roses Clear Stamp Set	Simple Greetings Clear Stamp Set
Copic Sketch Markers	French Lily Oval Cutting & Embossing Die 0254	Country Garden 6x6	Enamel Embossing Powder Adhesive	Butterfly Flurry Flourishes	Enamel EP TURQUOISE LAGOON
V2 Vellum Adhesive Spray	Bliss Pearls

InLinkz.com

Challenges:
Catered Crop- BFF
Crafting When We Can- Friendship
Craft-Dee BowZ- AG with a hand made bow

Sparkle & Sprinkle- AG with EP, Glitter or Flocking

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Card Mania- How Charming

At Card Mania, the challenge for the next two weeks is "How Charming".  The Sponsor for the challenge is Kenny K digi's.  She is called Texting Diva.

 This is my first time using a Kenny K digital image. I have 2 twenty something year old daughters, so found this image quite sweet.  She is colored with Copic Markers and layered on Bo Bunny papers- bright and summery : ) The sentiment is by Create with TLC digis.
  The die cut is a Cheery Lynn Designs die, the circle are 1" and 1 1/4" circle punches. The charms are really old- possibly from the Target dollar spot. The Charm is from Hobby Lobby- not sure who makes it.

Catered Crop-BFF
The Cutting Edge- Use a die cut
Kenny K- AG + Dots or stripes
Squirrel and Fox- Lace and ribbon (pink lace & green ribbon)

Thanks for stopping by!
 Shelly

Shaved Blessings

The Stamp Addicts Blogging group at SCS has a challenge (it was actually for June) to make a card using the shaving creme technique.

 I apparently added too much reinker- OR the Distress reinkers are very colorful compared the regular ones..... (I used Ranger Barn Red and Lemonade ).
 I used the Sketch Challenge at Mark's Finest Papers- and it has a twist- make a card for a friend- yep- sending this in the mail tomorrow!
 The image was colored with Copics, and I stamped the image twice and cut out the top layer so the flower would have some dimension, then I also distressed the edge of the Tangerine cardstock.  

Challenges:
Mark's Finest papers- Sketch w/a twist
Scrapbook PhD- Texture
Mod Squad- Texture

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Sweet Stamps- Gold and/or Silver

The challenge this week at Sweet Stamps is Gold and/or Silver. I decided to make a very CAS silver card for the challenge this week:

  I started with a very shimmery cardstock in Silver and Ivory from Marco's paper called Stardream Cover.  I swiped over it with the anti-static pouch, then embossed using Fantasy Silver Embossing Powder- it is very sparkly IRL!  I stamped the sentiment and measured how much space I had remaining from the top and bottom of the card. I masked off below those areas, then embossed the flourishes. 

Here are the Products I used from the Sweet Stamps Store:

May The Peace

Flourishes Clear Stamp Set

Embossing Pal Anti-Static Pouch

Distress Clear Embossing Ink

Fantasy Silver

Silver Rhinestones

InLinkz.com

We have a weekly challenge and a monthly technique challenge. The monthly challenge 6/15-7/14  is Painters Tape. Our winners are chosen by Random.org- and if you use a Sweet Stamps image, your entry will count x's 2!

Sweet Stamps has a Pintrest board HERE

Sweet Stamps has a Facebook group HERE

Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps and more- Holiday
Stampin Royalty- AG

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly