Sweet Stamps- Stencils and Embossing Paste

Hi- waving hello to everyone!  I have been in Kentucky visiting my parents this past week- I will work on catching up with commenting on blogs this weekend!
 For the Sweet Stamps challenge this week, I decided to get out the watercolors and give them a go for the 'stencil and embossing paste' theme.

 I used the Peerless watercolors and the Geo Triangles stencil. First, secure the stencil (use painters tape or Washi...). I used the Dark Green color (which is the main background color) and applied that all over the background thru the stencil.  I removed the stencil and added splashes of Wisteria Violet and Japonice Scarlet and Dk Gray using a wet paintbrush and flicks of the paintbrush.
 I replaced the stencil and added white Embossing Paste here and there.

 The Embossing Paste added a little texture to the background.  Once dry, I watercolored over the areas of dry embossing paste again using Dark Green. I added a little more color over that with a Copic marker. **TIP- Be patient and let the embossing paste dry- if you want a bubbly look- you can use the heat gun- but if you do not want a bubbly look- be patient : )
  The Billy Painting Happy Birthday image was stamped, colored with Copics and fussy cut- then added on Dimensionals to the card.

Products I used from the SweetStamps.com store :
Black Tuxedo Memento ink HERE
Billy Painting Happy Birthday image HERE
Peerless Watercolors HERE
Geo Triangles Stencil HERE
Copic Markers HERE
White Embossing Paste HERE
Forget Me Not ink HERE
Coordinations cardstock Purple Majesty (Lavendars group) andAquaduct (Out to Sea group) HERE

Challenges
Simon Says Stamp- AG
Stampotique SDC #180- Painted BG 
Top Tip Tuesday- Something New- Stencil and image
Artistic Inspirations- Triangles ( the stencil pattern )
Scrapbook Stamp Society- AG option Birthday
Use Your Stuff- Paint

Thanks for stopping by!
 Shelly

Sweet Stamps- Hearts

The challenge at Sweet Stamps for this week is Hearts.

 There are hearts on the top layer, and little pink hearts peek out on the pink layer just between the white hearts on the top layer.

 I stamped the image 3 times- twice on the Silver Lustre cardstock and once on the pink shimmery cardstock. The cardstock is from Paper Temptress.  I fussy cut the three layers out, and stacked them using dimensionals.
 I used In the Pink ink to dab on color using the Victorian Romance stencil. I added a little more shimmer using the Stardust Gelly Roll pen. Pink Pearls finish off the medallion.



Products I used from the Sweet Stamps Store:
Open Hearts Medallion Stamp HERE
Black Tuxedo Memento Ink HERE
In the Pink Ink HERE
Victorian Romance Stencil HERE
Hot Pink Pearls HERE
Stardust Gelly Roll Pen HERE

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:
Simon Says Stamp- Hearts
Sisterhood of Crafters- entry #2-Something New- Stamp, Stencil, Pearls : )
Shopping Our Stash- Use Specialty Paper- and Oh so hard to cut into it : )
Amusing- Hearts
Tip Top Tuesday- Something new : ) Stamp, Stencil, Pearls  *TIP*  If you are layering a stamp image multiple times, you do not need to stamp the complete image each time- to save on cardstock- especially when it is specialty cardstock. SO, for the top layer, I simple ink up the center portion of the image.

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Tuesday Throwdown-Embossing (wet, dry or paste)

The challenge at Tuesday Throwdown this week is Embossing (wet, dry or paste).  Our Sponsor for the challenge is Avery Elle.

 Chinese New Year this year begins Feb 19th, and it is the year of the Sheep.  My daughter lives in China, so when I saw the Bunting Die and coordinating Bunting stamp set, I had to have them to make a card!  

 The Washi was purchased in Shenzhen, China. I layered the die cut black and hung lanterns stamped with Versamark and embossed with Enamel Embossing Powders- I used 24 K Gold, Aged White and Cranberry Wine (Girls Night Out).  There is shimmer and glimmer in the powders, and in the Washi...... This card was terrible to photograph because of all of the shimmer!  

 Here is one from my phone- still not the greatest picture...... the shimmer is not overwhelming IRL.

Stop by the challenge HERE to see the fabulous inspiration by the rest of the team!

 I thought I'd throw in a couple of pictures of real Chinese lanterns- the first picture is from 'Lantern Street' in Beijing, and the 2nd picture is from 'Food Street' Wangfujing Street in Shanghai China (where you go to see scorpions.starfish/centipedes on a stick- totally touristy- and everyone tried something on a stick except for me).  Most regular streets are not lined with lanterns like these streets. 

 Challenges:
Card Mania- Make it Sparkle(#3)
Crafty Cardmakers- Something old (Washi - 3 yrs old) and something new- Stamps and die
Sparkle and Sprinkle- Enamel EP
Crazy Challenge- Embossing

Thanks for stopping by!
 Shelly

Kindness...is like snow......

 I had a few minutes to steal away, so colored up a beautiful digi by All Dressed Up . I love this sweet image- and the card is for the Monthly Progressive Challenge at the Outlawz.

 I thought she was so sweet- and I love the Sentiment by Create with TLC. The background is a Shaving Cream background I made months back for a challenge in my Stamp Addicts group @ SCS. I added snowflakes in Crackle Embossing Paste and added some light purple accent to them. The image is colored with Copics.  I used a Wink of Stella Pen to add shimmer to the brim and pom on her hat. The cardstock and ribbon are SU Rich Razzleberry.

Other Challenges:
My Sheri Crafts-  Let it Snow
Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers- W is for WOW it's cold!
All Dressed Up- AG

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Sweet Stamps- Winter Blues

The challenge at Sweet Stamps for this week is Winter Blues

 I used white glossy cardstock, swiped with the anti-static pad and embossed the flourish with White Detail EP.  I sponged on 4 colors of ink for a blustery look. I used Tidal Wave, Aquamarine, Nassau Blue Shades Die inks and Faded Jeans Distress Ink.  I swiped over the panel when done to remove any ink from the white embossing.
 I had fun using a Globecraft Piccolo snowman, and embossed it using Aged White, Brownstone and Vintage Black Enamel EP. I also used the Aged White EP on snowflakes. I dabbed on a touch of Orange Copic marker through the back around the nose.
 The ribbon is Stampin Up.
 There is a shimmer in the Embossing Powder that cannot be captured in a picture- just love it!


Products I used from the Sweet Stamps Store:

Flourishes Stamp set HERE
I Love Snow HERE
Antistatic Pad HERE
Ranger Embossing Ink HERE
White Detail EP HERE
Happy Snowman Piccolo Accent HERE
Snowflakes Piccolo Accent HERE
Shades Die Ink- Tidal Wave, Aquamarine and Nassau Blue HERE
Ranger Distress Ink Faded Jeans HERE
Enamel EP Aged WHite, Brownstone, Vintage Black HERE
Embossing Adhesive for Enamel EP HERE


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 for my card:
Fresh Brewed Designs- My Favorites : Blue and the Enamel EP's
Little Red Wagon- Frosty
Sisterhood of Crafters- New- snowman and Vintage Black Enamel EP
Fan-Tastic Tuesday- AG plus recycle- ribbon is from a project I made at Stamp Camp....
Loves Rubberstamps- No Black Ink
PDE Linky Party- Blue and White
Pinspirational- photo inspiration
Craft-Dee-BowZ- AG with handmade Bow
Craftin Desert Diva's - Blue and White

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Sweet Stamps- Something New

The challenge at Sweet Stamps for this week is Something New.  Well, I had a hayday buying stuff in the store for Santa to bring to me......, so I have lots to choose from!

  I had fun with Dylusions sprays for the background, and then I used a stencil and covered the background with Wendy Vecchi Gold Embossing Paste.  Oh- IRL this paste is just gorgeous!  The paste is flexible, so you can bend the cardstock top to bottom, and it will not crack.......  It also picks up the hue from the color of the Dylusions underneath it.
  I used Enamel Embossing Powder Royal Sterling on the outer edge of the image. I swiped the cardstock with the antistatic first, and once the purple EP was cooled down, I swiped again with the antistatic and embossed the crown using Micro Gold Enamel EP. It is so hard to see the shimmer from this EP in a picture, so here is another angle.....

I colored the butterfly with Distress Markers Worn Lipstick, Peeled Paint and Chipped Sapphire.  I colored and stamped it a 2nd time, fussy cut it and added shimmer with a Stardust Gelly Roll pen.

*Products I used from the Sweet Stamps Store:
Crown Butterfly ATC image HERE
Especially for You HERE
Ranger Distress Markers HERE
Ranger Embossing Ink HERE
Victorian Romance Stencil HERE
Wendy Vechhi Gold Embossing Paste HERE
Palette Knife for embossing paste HERE
Antistatic pad HERE
Micro Gold and Royal Sterling Embossing Paste HERE
Lavenders Coordinations Cardstock HERE
Forget Me Not Inkspot HERE

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:
Aud Sentiments- New + Sentiment (New Embossing Paste, Image, Enamel Embossing Paste)
Cute Card Thursday- New
ABC Challenge- Anything Goes
Card Mania- Make it Sparkle, Make it Shine

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Tuesday Throwdown- Favorite Embellishment

 The Tuesday Throwdown Challenge is back from break, and we are using our Favorite embellishments for challenge #226. We are sponsored by Diane's Daydream Designs this week.

 Our Sponsor generously gave us digi's to work with, and I used the digi Ballerina and a dance  sentiment. I used a Cheery Lynn Designs die cut for the Metallic Silver layer.  I added embellishments cut from chipboard and embossed with Enamel EP from SweetStamps- the  enamel EP makes gorgeous embellishments- the stars are very sparkly IRL.
 The image is colored with Copics.  The background is from my Technique Junkies stash, and has pink plus a  shimmery silver metallic ink.

Challenges:
Card Mania- Make it Sparkle
Sparkle and Sprinkle- AG using EP
Hiding in My Craft Room- Pinks
ShowCase your Style- Use at least one Die Cut
Glitter and Sparkle- AG

Thanks for stopping by!
 Shelly

Favorites Cards of 2014

 I can hardly believe it is 2015 -  As a kid, I remember believing in 2015 we would be driving around in spaceships like George Jetson........ 
 I have been so Blessed in 2014- Thanks to all of my Blogging friends for supporting me, and I love stopping by your blogs too- for inspiration. 
 
Here are my 2014 Favorites:

January 2014

February 2014

March 2014:

April 2014

May 2014

June 2014

July 2014

August 2014

September 2014

October 2014

November 2014

And, an ornament I made:

And, December 2014

 If you have posted your Favorite cards of 2014, please leave me a link so I can stop by : )

 I will be cleaning the crafting space and moving to another space in my house in a month or so, and am going to start having Blog Candy for some of the 'excess' supplies.  Stay tuned.......

Happy New Year!

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Sweet Stamps- Girls Night Out

The challenge at Sweet Stamps for this week is Food and drink. 

 The Girls are 'Out' catching up over drinks : )  Maybe they are discussing their New Year Resolutions.......
 I made the background using Ranger Distress Inks dabbed onto the craft mat, spritzed with water- and dried between each color.  I used Wild Honey and Barn Door, and  I flicked on a tiny bit of Black Soot. The Silhouette image from the Wine! set was stamped onto the panel. I added the chandeliers in using Fantasy Silver EP- they are actually the smaller wine glasses upside down.... : )
 I was imagining the girls sitting in front of the big glass window enjoying the view.  So, I took the Stone Path ATC stencil and added embossing paste and embossed with BrownStone Enamel EP.  Normally, you let the paste dry prior to embossing, but I thought the bubbly look would be cool on the bricks, so I did not wait. I love the way it turned out.

We'd love to have you join us for the challenge. 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

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly