Life Been a Zoo???

I hope you have recovered from your festivities-if they are over....we are beginning a week in Colorado with my kids for our family Christmas- life is good!

 When my siblings gathered, a few from out of town went to the zoo with my sister and I tagged along.  It took us 3 hours to get 20 minutes from where she lived!  But, we saw the zoo lights at Brookfield Zoo and had a fun time with family.
  I am going to send this to one of them.....not sure who yet.....

 The image by Newton's Nook is colored using Copic markers.

Challenges TBA

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

After Christmas Peeps

A little after Christmas relaxation, and I made a card for a challenge at SCS- Knit Wit.  I did not have any whitty sentiments that went along with knitting, so just used a Unity sentiment,

  I used an Alcohol Ink background in Yellows and blues for the background- done on white glossy cardstock.  I inked up the EF by Sunny Studios using Marina Mist ink and ran it through the EF.  I added the image which was cut out with a die and used Copic Markers to color in the images. The sentiment is by Unity.  I punched it out using a 1 1/4 " punch.

 I am the only girl in my family that knits, but I do enjoy it especially in the winter months!

I hope you had a Blessed Holiday- ours is not over quite yet....

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Glorious Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate.  I do, so made another version of the Chriostmas card on my previous post.

 I first made a version without the blue stars in the background

  I like them both.  I tried different ways of adding the silver alont the edges, double sided tape runner, just sponging on the Versamark ink and finally, putting a strip of paper down and sponging Versamark onto the edge that was uncovered.

God Bless and Merry Christmas!!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Oh Holy Night

Christmas Eve is here.  Using a Falliday Fest stamp set for the perfect card!

 It also fulfills three challenges at SCS, vellum, color and Christmas!  I added Silver EP for the edging on both panels and for the sentiment.

God Bless and Merry Christmas for thise who celebrate!

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Holiday Chaos Day 7- Friday Freebie

It's the last day of Holiday Chaos, and it is also Friday Freeboe day!  This adorable image is free in the Bugaboo store for the next week.  Remember, you have until 12/31 to enter your cards in the Holiday Chaos- you can make Holiday Thank You cards : ) 

 I made this yellow for a VSN challenge at Splitcoaststampers. It's hard to imagine that so many spend Christmas in warm weather and never see snow!  I also used a stencil that is a Zig Zag pattern for a Z Alpha challenge. And, finally, I made this yellow and purple- it is the year anniversary of my mom passing, and she loved yellow and purple.
  The image is colored using Copics and a Wink of Stella pen. I had a shimmery Washi that is full of shimmer.  The sentiment is Art Impressions. The oval punch and scalloped punch are from SU.  The rectangle die is Memory Box stitched dies.

Challenges- TBA

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Holiday Chaos Day 6 Color Challenge

It's day 6 of the Bugaboo Holiday Chaos.  The Catch the Bug Blog is the place to go for all of the challenges.
  We have a color challenge today:

 

 This image is from a Christmas Set of Mini Tags   I like to use these as sentiments, but challenged myself to use one as a main focus on a card.  I colored with Copics and added shimmer using Wink of Stella.

Hoping you will join us over at Catch the Bug challenge for some Holiday Chaos!!!
 
Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Holiday Chaos at Bugaboo Day 5

I hope you have had a chance to stop by the Catch the Bug challenges this week!  Today, we have an inspirational picture challenge- here is my take on the picture.

HERE is the picture:

 LOL, I went with the Penguin in the pot of the tree : )  And, the red and the hat in the photo.  So cute- what pup doesn't love cookies!!!

Challenges- TBA

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Joyous Greetings

I made this for an Alcohol Ink challenge (VSN) over at SCS.  I used a Unity image and some embossing to bring this to life- letting the AI take center stage!!!

I used Memory Box stitched circle dies for the silver card circle edging. The image and sentiment are from Unity.  The image is embossed using a clear EP.  

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Holiday Chaos Day 4- New Release

There is a New Release at Bugaboo today, plus a BINGO board for the Holiday Chaos Day 4 challenge.

and the BINGO board

  As you can see, I chose Kraft, free and Glitter. The image is colored using Copic Markers. I added Wink of Stella for shimmer.  I layered the image on Kraft cardstock embossed with a TH brick pattern.  The DSP is (retired) SU. The sentiment is Graciellie Designs.

Challenges- TBA

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Alphabet challenge-'A'

I joined in on an Alphabit challenge over at SCS, and we are on the letter 'A' this past week.

 I have thesde sweet angel images just waiting to see ink : )  And, they are perfect for the A challenge- aka Angels.  I used a technique challenge over at Splitcoast using Pan pastels and a Stencil.  I was able to get 2 backgrounds from this technique.....  The die I used is Gina Marie. The cardstock is old SU- Bordering Blue. The images are colored using Copics and I colored over the angel dresses in Wink of Stella.

Challenges-:
The Cutie Pie Challenge- Christmas Cuties
Make My Monday- Christmas

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Bugaboo Holiday Chaos- ABAC

We are making ABAC aka Anything but a Card  and adding glitter for Holiday Chaos today. The challenge is at Catch the Bug.  I made a couple of Christmas tags.

I used the Scan and Cut and an image called Reindeer Peeker. The images were colored using Copic markers. I cut the top of the tag using American Crafts DP and the SU scalloped edge punch. The To & From stamp is Inkadinkado. The glitter strips are Washi Tape,

There are great prizes for participants of the challenges- hope you join us over at Catch the Bug!

Challenges-
Artsystamper- Tags
International Art and Soul- Tags

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Bugaboo Holiday Chaos- Sketch

Day two of Holiday Chaos at Bugaboo is a Sketch challenge. Plus, don't forget to add a critter to your card!!!

 

 I used DP from American Crafts (From Tuesday Morning) for my sketch.  I am using this all week for my cards.  I colored the image with Copics, cut it our with a die and added sequins and some Christmas rhinestones and a brad.

Come join us this week- there are so many prizes each day and more huge prizes for the overall winner for those that post each day.  This is a great way to finish making cards for Christmas/Holidays!!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

House Mouse - mints!

 I had to join in at the Splitcoaststampers VSN challenge by Dr Sonja.  We are to make a card using all white plus one other color.

 This House Mouse image was stamped onto Recollections cardstock using Memento Tuxedo ink.  I colored the image with Copic markers. The die is by Gina Marie.

Challenges:
House Mouse & Friends- Christmas
Cut it Up challenge- Christmas and a die
CAS on Friday- Christmas

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Bugaboo- Holiday Critter Chaos

Today begins Holiday Critter Chaos over at Bugaboo- the challenge Blog is Catch the Bug.  A challange each day for a week, then loads and loads of prizes to be won!!!

Today, we are making cards with a Critter and some snow.  I used the image called Little Pengiun Toque.  I did quite a bit of fussy cutting, and some dies from MFT for the snow banks.  The ink is from Simon Hurley Creates - the 2 blues called Clear Skies and Remember Me. It is reactive with water too.  The fussy cut (black) snowflakes are psrt of the image, I put a small rhinestone in the center of each one.
  The white cardstock is very shimmery IRL, and I added shimmer using Wink of Stella on the lt peach parts pf the hats.

Challenges:
Alphabet Challenge- S is for snow
Crafty Catz- Blue Christmas

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Bugaboo- Friday Freebie

Ohhh, I love the freebie at Bugaboo Digital Images today!  It's a sweet Candy Cane Bear!

 It is a perfect image for the striped DP, and easy to Fussy Cut too!  (Although, thatis not necessary, I love it fussy cut!).  Copics were used to color this image, and all of the white on the candy cane has Wink of Stella for shimmer. The DP was layered over Silver cardstock, then onto white cardstock.  The senitment is also from Bugaboo.

Christmas Chaos begins tomorrow, so get some critter Christmas/Holiday images printed out so you will be ready to join in- LOTS of great prizes!!!

Challenges:
Winter Wonderland- AG Christmas
Cardz4galz- Cute Christmas
Papercraft Challenges- Christmas
Holly and Ivy Challenge- Christmas

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Bugaboo- Poinsettia

Bugaboo Humor Me Wednesday asks that we post cards for daily celebrations.  I chose 12/12 which is Poinsettia day!!!

 This image is Ruby Christmas Poinsettia.  I colored her using Copic markers. There is a subtle stencil (MFT) in the background brushed on in Soft Sky SU ink.  The sentiment is Graciellie Designs.  The die is Gina Marie.

Challenges:
ABC Christmas Challenge- Y is for Yule
Sisterhood of Crafters - AG Christmas
Color Throwdown- Red & Green &White
Try it on Tuesday- Christmas is Coming

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

ATC- Sewing and Embroidery

The ATC group I am in had a December theme of Sewing and Embroidery.  I neglected to get pictures of my ATC's individually, so here they are in pastic right before the trade

 and a close up of one I had left after the trade.

 I won a Concord and 9th gift card from Splitcoast a few months ago, and one of the items I chose was a die that I used on the background of my ATC's.  It is called the Sew Striped die.

 I made three types of ATC's- one is three Christmas trees with stars, one is a tree with jewels for ornaments and finally, a snowflake using metallic silver and blue threads.

Here are the ATC's I recieved back from the trade:

On the Lt- Harriet made a tree of felt and added sequins ornaments and a gold star.
On the Rt, Diane M did silk ribbon embroidery  (WOW)

 Diane S cut out a tree shape and added embroidery across the tree
Mary W made a felt ATC with blanket stitch and added a Geisha and french knots and a tassel.  (Right up my alley).

Lt- Marcy machine embroiderery on ribbon and added it over metallic cardstock and a DP.
Rt- Debbie made a card using DP that looks like machine work and collaged it.

Lt- Cindy did meditative stitching, and used couching to add a fiber to her fabric background.
Rt- Dee Dee arred a decorative trim to a fancy gold on white metallic paper.

Marci was the hostess for a fun Christmas gathering!  It was a fun meeting and I always look forward to catching up with these ladies!!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Fa La La La La

I recently won a set of Simon Hurley Creates inks on Instagram.  How fun is that!!!  I found them at my door when I arrived home from our 1800 mile Thanksgiving journey to Virginia!

I had previously purchased a stamp set also from Simon Hurley creates- so fun and festive, so set out to create.  The backdrop is a MFT stencil, and I used both of the blue inks. 

Next, I stamped the inks on a glass mat and watercolored the tree and the boy.  The gifts are paper pieced. The musical notes are also in the set.  A little wink of Stella for shimmer and a touch of color to the lights- what a fun stamp set!

I took the time to swatch out the inks on Gina K 110# card, Recollections 110# and Georgia Pacific card in the blues.  I used ink blending tools and tried to go darker to lighter.  I watercolor with inks often (and epsecially when on the road), so swiped inks on using a waterbrush at the bottom of my swatch card. 

Whew- Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is approaching quickly!!!  

Challenges TBA

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Vodka clean : )

 Today is Freebie Friday at Bugaboo Digital images.

I always smile when I see Stella images, don’t you??? Lol

I colored the image using Copic markers. The rest of the supplies were sitting on my work desk just waiting to be used!!!

Stop by the store & grab this fun image and why not join in our Saturday challenge or Sunday Stella Says Sketch challenge!!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here is a fun Thanksgiving card for you!  I hgope you all have a wonderful day together with Family if you celebrate!!!

 We are spending Thanksgiving with our daughters this year in Virginia.  We will visit the Werowocomico National Park in Gloucester, Va. today and it is the home to chief Powtan and Pocahontas.  How perfect for our festivities to follow this visit!

 I made up this card using three seperate images from Bigaboo Digital Stamps. Bobblehead Thanksgiving Pilgrim Boy, Bobblehead Thanksgiving Indian Girl, Bobblehead Thanksgiving Pilgrim Girl

 I colored the images using Copic markers, and they were trimmed using the Scan n Cut.  The sentiment is Lockhart stamps.

Challenges TBA

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Give Thanks

Its a wonderful time of year where we can focus on counting our blessings!!! 

 We are spending Thanksgiving with out daughters in Virginia.  (Our son has to work).  I loved this digi from Bugaboo about giving Thanks- more than just pie and Turkey to me- for family and simple things : )

I used the Give Thanks Block from Bugaboo Digital images. I colored with Copic markers.

I pray you have a wonderful and blessed time this Thanksgiving weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Joyous Holiday

One more Christmas card for my pile : ) 

  This sweet image is by Great Impressions, the sentiment is Sunny Studios.  The DP is a digi by Graciellie Designs.  The die is Gina Marie.

Challenges: TBA

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Tone on Tone Stenciling

The TLC (Technique Lovers Challenge) at SCS today is use your stencils to achieve a tone on tone background.  I had to create!

 I made up another Christmas card.  I do not make many cards like each other....... 
 The cardstock is Gina K Red Hot, and the ink is Barn Door Distress ink.  The stencil is Tim Holtz.
The image was colored using Copic markers and I cut it out using the Scan n Cut.  I added Nuvo drops in the centers of the flowers and white paint pen for some accents to the background.  The sentiment is also Graciellie Designs, but from a different set.

Challenges: TBA

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

CAS Christmas Tag

A fun quick CAS tag:

  I made a quick tag using the Christmas Crazy kit Tracie sent me!  The images are by Two Paper Divas (now closed).  The images are colored with COpics.  The Snowman is overcolored with Stardust Gelly Roll pen. I used MFT diecuts for the tag, the circle at the top of the tag and the strip across the bottom. The sentiment is also from the kit. 
  The snowflakes are stamped in Versamark onto the tag and embossed using Stardust EP. (By Embossing Arts). I added gems to the tree. I colored using Copics. The ribbon is from my stash.

Challenges- TBA

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Happy 2020!!!

I just found this cute stamp at a very reeasonable price on a FB destash page. 

 I love House Mouse stamps : )  This one needed very little coloring, just some shading and there is shimmer on the black ribbon banner. 
 
The TH embossing folder has silver metallic ink applied to it, then I ran a piece of black card through the Big Shot.  The resulting embossing has embedded silver in it. The 2020 is die cut with a die from DieVersions.

I hope you are having a fabulous weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

What I love about mornings......

I am so NOT a morning person!  But, when I get up, I have a cup of hot tea- Irish breakfast tea OR English breakfast tea.

  I used a couple of MFT sets to create this card.  I am a tea drinker, and I so miss my pup!  He used to be so loving and always excited to greet me in the AM.  Now, on occasion, we have our Grandpup here, not too often though. I will get my tea and then play fetch with a tennis ball.  I am working on teaching him drop- but he would rather wrestle with me for the ball.
  I stamped the cup repeatedly on the background in brown ink.  The images were colored with Copic markers. The cardstock is very textured and coarse, and I tried to emboss on it, but it was messy, so I used Chocolate Chip cardstock and used white EP on it.

Challenges:
Brown Sugar- AG

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Merry Christmas

Kraft cards are the challenge for Ways to Use it at Splitocast.

 I used stamps I won in the DTGD challenge at SCS.  I Gold embossed the sentiment using a set of Christmas sentiments. The holly images are white embossed and then colored using Zig waterbrush pens. I added watermark images and lightly colored them in using colored pencils. Sequnis and twine finish the card.
  I used Kraft cardstock from Joanne that is a little more textured and you can see that on the top of the card.  The cardstock does take color well though.  I added Versamark to the edges of the cardstock and gold embossed it to finish the card.

Challenges:
Cards 4 Galz-Ready for Christmas
Crafting with an Attitude- AG
Double D Challenges- What is your Christmas Style


Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Bad Day???

If you were a Turkey, the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday would be a Bad Day for you!!!  For the Humor me Wednesday post over at Catch the Bug, I thought I'd showcase the Turkey : )

 I also saw a Falliday challenge at Splitcoast to make blue the dominant color on a Thanksgiving card.  The sentiment I used is by Unity.
 The die is a Memory Box stitched die.

Challenges:

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Tone on Tone

Tome on tone is a challenge at Splitcoast for the Falliday challenges.  I used Ruby Red- one of my all time favorite colors (retired SU).

  I stamped the Simon Hurley background stamp, Flower Garden,  in Ruby Red and stamped it onto the cardstock 3 times....  the last time, I spritzed it with a little water.  I repeated the process on white cardstock, then trimmed the flowers out and adhered them to the base layer.
  I stamped once more using Summer Sun (also retired SU).  I fussy cut out the middle of the flowers and added them to the flower.  The sentiment is from a Simon Hurley set as well and is stamped with Ruby Red and Versamark and embossed with clear EP.  I added shimmer to the flowers using Sakura Stardust Gelli Roll pen.

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Bugaboo- Let it Snow

Bugaboo has a New Release today- and I am so in love with this image!  (I am a huge bird lover)!!!

I used the Sketch from the Paper Craft Crew PCC358- I may not make it to enter it in the challenge, but loved the sketch.
  The image was colored with Copics. The DP is SU- really ancient : )  LOL  a snowflake was cut from a shimmery cardstock using a diecut by Yvonne Creations. A Sakura Stardust Gelly Roll pen was used to add some sparkle to the ornaments and the snowflakes.

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Thanks!

I had my 8th Grade Religious Ed class make cards to say Thank You to a gentleman in Florida who paid off unpaid cafeteria bills so the kids could eat lunch without worry.  How awesome is that?

  I loved this, because it is a great example of how when we pray, it is not always to ask for something (for ourselves or others). It is also a great way to tell God Thank You for prayers answered or good outcomes!!!
  I supplied cards that I bought in boxes with multiple colors, Washi Tape, a few diecuts (Gina Marie owl in photo) and sentiments.  The sentiments are Gina K, Hero Arts and Pretty Pink Posh.
  I will be mailing these out and I hope Andrew enjoys them. I found this idea for cardmaking on Splitcoaststampers in the Tuesday Teapot challenge thread.

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Pop- out card

This was a fun technique tutorial to try- Pop-Out card. I used a background stamp called Roses from Technique Junkies.

  This is a technique from the Falliday challenge list- and is called Pop up card. I used a background stamp called Roses from Technqiue Junkies.  I stamped in black on whote cardstock.  I restamped using red and just fussy cut the rose.  There is a circle Spellbinders diecut over the rose on the black and white page. The red rose is adhered to 2 heart dies that are folded in half and adhered the back of the image. That makes it pop up and it pokes through the circle on the front of the card.  The technique is on Splitcoast in the resourses area.

 I colored over the white roses and the red rose with Wink of Stella, so there is a ton of glimmer on this card!

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Merriest Christmas

Inspired by the Featured Stamper at SCS, I got out this sweet image and colored it up!

 O have a die that cuts the center step card, although I do score it a bit deeper before folding it.  I adde Authentique DP onto Real Red SU cardstock. The coloring is done using Copic markers. I pierced around the edges and added a touch of sparkle onto the presents using a Sakura Gelly roll pen.  My husbad said the card was way too plain, so I added the greenery- which is a die from Cheery Lynn.

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Punch Art Believe

Falliday is in progress at Splitcoast- challenges and encourages you to create!  I made a card for the challenge to add a FACE to your card.

 This idea is from THIS post. I did not have all of the punches, so freehand cut shapes. I have to admit that when my card was done I spilled tea on it.....!  You can see the effect of that, but will use it anyway- it will put a smile on someone's face! 
  The Olive Green layer is embossed using a Tim Holtz embossing folder that I had added Old Olive ink to- then spritzed with water.
  The Christmas Mouse is a variety of punches and a few are free form cut with scissors. The Believe sentiment is from Sweet n Sassy Stamps.

Challenges: TBA

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Dueling Darlings- Owls

It's the 15th, which means it's time for the Dueling Darlings challenge.  This month, Beth is the hostess for the Dazzlers (my team) and Heather is the hostess for the Diva's.  They chose the theme of owls.

 This cute Hero Arts Owl was in the kit Beth sent us.  The sentiment is Technique Junkies.  I colored with Copics and added a touch of Sakura Gelly Roll pen for some sparkle. 

I love visiting the blogs of my fellow DDD's to see what they create- Dazzlers use one kit, Divas another but with the same theme! Here are the links to blogs and SCS galleries to see all of the fun cards!

Challenges: TBA

Dazzlers:
Blogs: Beth ,Donna,  Jeanette  , Shelly- you are here, Terry L  , Tracie

SCS Galleries:    Debbie B, Terry S 

Divas
Blogs : Barb  , Carol ,  Judy ,   Heather  , Kelly  LJ  Tami
SCS Galleries:  Suzy   

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Cold as Ice

We are having Cold weather here in the suburbs of Chicago, so this card I made for Falliday shows how we are feeling!

  Yes, give me a warm drink please!!!  Tea for me : ) 
  This card was made by first placing blue Distress Inks on the background, next, I added a MFT stencil over the back that was wet with water first, then I placed a paper towel over it.  Then, I added Nuvo glotter gel to the bottom.  On the top, I punched out a snowflake using a Martha Stewart punch, and used the negative space as a stencil. 
  The stamps are MFT Cool Days.  I coored the image with Copics.

Stay warm but have a Cool Day!!!

Challenges- TBA

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Oh Christmas Tree.....

One of the 'Falliday' challenges at Splitcoast is perfect for a Christmas image I have been waiting to use! 

  This Christmas Crazy swap kit is from Imke (Germanstampler) on Splitcoast.  I added the Gina Marie die. The image is colored with Copics, Nuvo glitter gel is added.  It has traveled around quite a bit with me waiting to be used!

Challenges: TBA

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly