Dropping in today to say Happy New Year!!! I wish for all of you a Blessed year!!!

I love looking back to see what I have been up to creatively in the last year, so thought I'd post my favorites.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

And, I cannot forget this one- Go Cubs!!!

October

November

December

 I hope to spend a bit more time creating in 2017- wish me luck!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Shelly

Angels We Have Heard on High

 Wishing you Christmas Blessings. Also, Happy Hanukkah!

 I had fun playing around with a new die from Die-Versions & made it three ways:

I cut out the die in Navy and attached it to a sheet of cardstock covered with 2" sticky tape. Next, I added Snow Glitter from Sparkle and Sprinkle. I added a faceted rhinestone to the center of the star, and added tabs with rhinestones on the sides.  I love the way this turned out- it is one of those cards that looks better in person. 

Card number two:

I decided to cut out the die in white shimmery cardstock and add it to a navy blue cardstock background. One of the Navy's is shimmery, the other plain. I love the way both of them looked. I added a faceted rhinestone to the center of the star.

And, finally:

 I made this just like #2, but die cut a shimmery gold star, and the words Noel in gold as well for the inside. 

Challenges:
Sparkle and Sprinkle- Glitter
Brown Sugar- Christmas
Fussy and Fancy- Angels
Just Add Ink- N is for Navy
Glitter and Sparkle- Make it Sparkle

My computer went in for repair today- I am going to be on cell only until I get it back. I will do my best to get around to blogs until I get it back!

Thanks for stopping by! Many Blessings to all of my friends in blogland!
Shelly

Holiday Wishes

I made a card for a 'Holiday' exchange, and not knowing the beliefs of my swap partner, wanted to be respectful, so made a generic card- using my pretty shimmery cardstock again : )

 This pretty ornament is from Michael Strong Stamps. It is embossed using Gold Fire Opal EP.  I added a die (that just arrived in the mail) from Die-Versions. I die cut it in Gold, then the leaves in green and the poinsettia in Cherry Cobbler. I added Gold stickles to the poinsettia center. And, rhinestones to the open circle areas in the die. I colored silver rhinestones with R39 Copic marker to get just the right color : )  I also added some YR24 to rhinestones for the Cherry Cobbler (red) layer with the ornament.

The background is my pretty shimmery cardstock that is from a resale shop, and it is embossed using the SU poinsettia EF.

Challenges:
Sparkle and Sprinkle- Use EP, glitter, flocking
Crafting When We Can- It's Christmas
One Stitch at a Time- AG with lots of glitter
Pile it on- Any Holiday Celebration
Corrosive Challenge- Silver or Gold
Alphabet Challenge- Use something Red

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Merry Christmas

This is my final day being the card captain at Michael Strong stamps. I had a fun week using shimmery paper I bought at a resale shop- which I am having so much fun using.  So, why stop now, LOL

 I made the ornaments with the technique I posted yesterday. (The ornament comes in 2 sizes).  I cut out greenery with a Cheery Lynn Designs die. The sentiemt is embossed in Gold Fire Opal EP by Embossing Arts.

I am out of town until mid-week next week with my
Thanks for stopping by!

Shelly

Shimmering solution

I bought some gorgeous shimmery white cardstock for a song at a resale shop.  The first card I attempted to make using it got ruined, as the ink will not dry on it....... My solution:

 I colored on the stamp and using my Misti : )  stamped the image. Next, I cleaned the stamp and applied Versamark. I embossed the image- you can use clear EP or Stardust.

 If the color is too pale, and you have used clear EP, you can color right on the EP and then reheat it : )

Here is my final card:

  Image is Michael Strong and Sentiment Creste with TLC.

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Rejoice at His birth

For day three of me being 'Card Captain' for the Michael Strong Yahoo group, I decided to make a Christmas card for a sweet blogging friend.

 The sentiment is from Create with TLC, and the flowers are from the Mini Shapes set from Michael Strong stamps. The (flowers) mini shapes have a die set that cuts the shapes.

 I cut out a template from the die and store it in the sleeve with the die set.  Once I stamp the image, I place the template over the image.  When, after a while I cannot find the correct fit, I realize I need to flip it over to the other side.... Guess I should write this side up on the template..... LOL

 This is what it looks like with the template on top.  I draw little circles in the holes, remove the template. Next, place the die over the flower with the holes lined up and viola- flowers cut out!

 I trimmed into the flower petals and curled them with my 'pokey' tool. I mounted them on a dimensional. The rhinestone centers are silver/clear colored with Copic YR24.

Michael Strong-Mini Shapes
Sentiment-Create with TLC
SU poinsettia EF
Gold Fire Opal EP (Embossing Arts)
Rhinestones- Recollections
Copic YR24
Memory Box Stitched Circle dies
SU Cherry Cobbler cardstock, white irridescent cardstock- found this at a resale shop : )

Challenges to follow

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Pinwheel Christmas

It's Day 2 for me being the Michael Strong Card Captain of the week : )

 Today, I used the stamp set called Cloisonne Accents from the Michael Strong collection.  This is a fun little set that comes with  (2) squares and (2) circles. I used the same square- on 4 of these little squares, I embossed using Gold EP. On the remaining four, I stamped in red ink, then stamped in Versamark and embossed using Stardust EP.  The sentiment is Paper Smooches.

 I used SU Real Red CS,, the Gold is from Marco Paper, and the shimmery white CS is from a resale shop. The rhinestones are recollections- I colored them with a Copic marker.

Challenges:
Come and Get it- Christmas
Christmas Cards All Year Round- AG
Word Art Wednesday- AG


Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Black and One other Color

  I am the card Captain this week for the Michael Strong Yahoo group. That means I will post a card each day . (Yes, each week we have a volunteer to post a card everyday- lots of inspiration!)

 I had a challenge to make a card that was black plus one color- I used a retired SU color Baroque Burgandy. I used a stamp from the Cloisonne Cranes set. The crane is embossed in black and adds a little texture to the top layer.

Cardstock- all SU- Black and Baroque Burgandy
Die- Dieversions Oriental Screen DV550
Embossing folder small dots-SU
Black EP
Michael Strong Cloisonne Origami Cranes

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Baking Up a Holiday with TLC

 Paulette at Create with TLC has invited me to join her team for a Holiday feast! And, she is generously giving away a freebie at each stop.  I hope you will hop along and see what we've cooked up for you : )

It's a Holiday feast, and this little guy is patiently awaiting the moment where he can dig in!  The main meal is turkey with stuffing, some mashed potatoes and I am sure a whole lot more!

 For my card, I colored with Copics, DP is SU as are the punches for the sentiment. The button is also SU. The ribbon and twine- unknown- from my stash.

The sentiment is also a freebie- you can just right click and save the images to your file.

and

I had to get silly a tiny bit on the inside- I am from a large family:

Paulette is so very generous- please do finish up the hop at the main blog and drop her a note of Thanks! 

Here is the Blog Hop order:

http://littlebitopaper.blogspot.com/                   Deanne
http://desiref.blogspot.com/                           Desire
http://daffodil-faitha.blogspot.com/                   Faith
http://craftchaos.blogspot.com/                        Hetty
http://sparklingpinktitta.blogspot.it/                 Ileana
http://decossesdynamitedoodles.blogspot.com/           Lisa D
http://lisalynncard.blogspot.com/                      Lisa Lynn
http://slasewcraftiness.blogspot.com/                  Lynne
http://craftymumzcreations.blogspot.com/               Rhonda Sue
http://edwinascreations.blogspot.com/                  Edwina
http://shellymc2.blogspot.com/                         Shelly
http://createwithtlc-createwithtlc.blogspot.com/       Paulette

 If you just dropped in, please go to Deanne's blog where the Hop begins.

Enjoy!!!  And, hope this wets your appetite for some creativity!

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

'Bird' ATC

In one of my Yahoo groups, we have an ATC 'lottery'.  One name is pulled from the list of participants, and we all send our ATC to that person.
 

 We have a theme each month as well- this month the theme is 'Birds'.  The image is stamped in black Memento and colored with Copics.  The bird was stamped twice and I mounted it on dimensionals.
I mounted the image on a purple cardstock and added a touch of Washi tape. There is  a touch of sparkle on the bird as well.
  I bought this stamp at a stamp swap sale, it is by Paper Inspirations. I learned that you can tell a Chinese image from a Japanese one if the back of the kimono has a sash tied call an Obi, and then there is a knot called a musubi which can look like a 'hump' or a 'pack on the back'.  That would be a Japanese Kimono with the Obi, as seen above in the image I used.

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Dueling Darlings

It's now the 17th,,,,,,on the 15th, we post for the Dueling Darlings- which is broken onto 2 groups= the Divas and the Dazzlers.

Carol and I are the Hostesses this month- Carol of the Diva's and me for the Dazzlers. Each of us sends out a card kit to our group and everyone makes a card with the theme we have chosen.

The theme this month is "Give Thanks". Even though it is Thanksgiving, we want to focus on what we are thankful for. I made my kit using fall colors, which is another goal for our kits this month.

Finally, we asked everyone to mention something they are thankful for.
I am Thankful for family, and for some time with my daughter in Virginia this past weekend- the trees are just Gloriuos there!

My Kit:
Digital images by Mo's Digital Images- I was unaware of the Angel Policy when I shared the image, but did get permssion from Mo- please check the angel policy if you share images- I will not share Mo's images ever again!
McMahon 5 Designs- store has closed
Create with TLC- sentiments
DP - DCWV from the Ghosts and Goblins stack
Card- Orange and tan- DCWV
White- Gina K 120#
Border die- Cherry Lynn Designs
Ribbon- Ivory SU
Faux Fall Burlap- Fall Crafts HL
Twine- American Crafts
Button- unknown- from my button box

Please  check my sidebar links to the Diva's and Dazzlers to see what the other participants have posted.

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Boat ATC

An ATC made for a swap in one of my groups for November.

 I forgot to take a picture before I mailed this one...so this is from one of the recipients.....  I stamped an image and used a portion of it that fit on an ATC.  I colored the image with Copic markers.  I punched out a boat, then punched the next larger circle punch larger- so the spotlight area fits into the larger circle. I really had fun with this one.

My swap ATC was from Barbie D

I love this beautiful scene.

I have been out of town and am a little behind papercrafting.  I will be posting more cards soon : )

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Letters/Numbers

I finally made it to an ATC group meeting here- it has been a while.  The theme this month was letters...and somehow I made that into numbers..... DIng, ding....it was OK....

 I made a stencil for the numbers in the background, sponged on with Distress inks. The (Chicago) Cubbie was from the internet, Bases Loaded sentiment is from Create with TLC. The hashtag'16 is an older SU set. I used a circle image from Artistic Outpost and the text is Sweet Stamps.

 We also make a 1-4-1 swap :

 This is a Gelli print, I added leaves that were cut from a Cheery Lynn die, added a bow, some Washi and a sentiment from a Studio G $1,00 set.

 Here is the 1-4-1 I recieved back-made by Linda :

  Haha- perfect for me!  Love it : )

 Here are the rest of the trade ATC's:

Lt side is from Mary- made with initials- not sure if Mary knows it, but my husband's name starts with an R- love it!
Rt side is Mari (aka sounds like Mary) - you cannot see all of the shimmer- so awesome!

 Lt side is from Mary (new Mary) and she played with a Metallic Gold pen.
Rt side is Dee De- she says when kids learn the alphabet, they say LMNOP without taking a breath- cute!  The purple flowers on chipboard is from a Kleenex box.

Lt side is by Cindy K
Rt side by Carol T

Lt is by Naomi and those are real little macaroni letters.
Middle is by Debbie
Rt is by LuEllen

Lt is by Harriet- P is for sparly pear with real beads
Rt is by Linda O. Love this so much!

Mom and I went to visit Dad's grave this past week (All Saints and All Souls day this past week)

We also made it down to Chicago, along with 7 Million other people for the Cubs parade and rally.

It was a MOB scene everywhere, but the excitement- was too much for my hubby to stay home!

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

'Tis Near Halloween

Hi! I hope you are enjoying the fall colors!    I had fun creating with this darling Bugaboo image:

   I am doing pretty well with CAS cards- they are getting easier : )  This fun image makes the card go together quickly- in fact, I made 30 of these for an adult day care for clients with Dementia and Alzheimers. My Mom has dementia, and I have to say, such centers are such a blessing when you do not want to put your loved one into a 'facility'.

  For this 2nd card, I cut our the ghosts on my Silhouette and just added a sentiment from Create with TLC.

Challenges:
Catch the Bug- Color Challenge - 1st card

My Mom is still here with me, and we have been having a great time with the beautiful color changes here:

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly