Spring is a coming!!!

 Spring is a coming! YAhoo- the Pinks and pastels come out and make for non-winter themed cards-yeah!!!

 This little cutie is by CC Designs, colored using Copics.  The die is Gina Marie and the DP is The Paper Studio. 

This image was in my Use it pile, it was embossed and the flowers already colored.  I just added a touch of watercolor to the bird and the leaves and the blue in the back, and die cut it, and added a strip of DP and done.  This is Cameo Coral DP- retired SU cardstock. 

This image by Northwoods was stamped already and I just colored it in using Copics.  I googles and saw that yes, there are red Morning glories (although they are rare) as my card was to be red themed.  The background was in my technique box-just dry embossed and a Hero Arts sentiment I had already stamped added.  I sure love hummingbirds!

Another image in my Use it Box....  This is a digi by Create with TLC.  I added Color using Copics. There was a 2nd image that was a touch bent up, so I fussy cut out the butterfly and popped it up.  The background is a technique from my box waiting to be used up- quick and easy!  

Hope you are having a great week and staying well!

Thanks for stopping by!

Shelly

Leap Day!

I joined in the Mixabilities challenge Friday at Splitcoaststampers for a jump start on creativity, and made a card for Leap day.  Inking up those unused stamps!!!

 This card has Distress inks and a stencil for the background, the frog is Green with Gold Shimmer spray on it, and the crown is gold glitter EP on Gold, the mushrooms are on a water colored 'scrap' from my stash.
  I used dies by Memory Box for the clouds- and used a shimmery white cardstock.  The grass is MFT stitched snow drifts.  The sentiment is from Sweet Stamps.
  The fairy princess has kissed her frog, and this is his Mother- Queen frog : )  It is her birthday, and she would rather have many kissed instead of the age old practice of Birthday Spankings- easier on the hand as well, as she is old!!!

Challenges:
Daring Cardmakers- Taking a flying leap
Creative Knockouts- dies/punches

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

ABC at SCS

For the Alphabet Challenge at Splitcoast (SCS), we are on the letter J this week.  I made a card J=Jesus

I stamped this image on 35# Vellum, embosed it with Queen's Gold EP and colored with Copics on the reverse side of the vellum. As it is symmetrical, I stamped it on the back of the Gold, and fussy cut out the frame in the shape of the stamp. Next, I embossed the gold piece, and then adhered the vellum and white piece underneath it. I cut and embossed a star using a Joy Craft die. Finally, I added a Ballet Blue base (retired SU).   The shimmery gold cardstock is from Paper Temptress.

Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps and More- AG
Word Art Wednesday- AG
Christmas Crafts all Year Round- Christmas Angel or Nativity
Merry Little Christmas- Christmas

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Sympathy

Cards we never like making are Sympathy cards. Yet, they are so special and meaningful.

 I used very shimmery cardstock in a soft purple color. I cut out a die using the same cardstock. The butterfly is Sweet Stamps and is stamped in Versamark and embossed using silver EP.  The sentiment on the front and inside is a set by Gina K Designs for Unity Stamps.

 I added just a touch of Sakura Gelly roll pen in Stardust for subtle shimmer.


Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Counting down.......

I have 7 more cards to make after today and a little less than a week to go to finish Falliday challenges.  I was able to work in a couple of swaps that I had not completed yet.....

 This is a new stamp at Michael Strong Stamps- isn;t it adorable?  I used the Way To Use it challenge at SCS and 'Cut Out' the bamboo. The Panda kanji is by Art Neko. This card is for a sketch challenge at the AOSA (About Oriental Art Stamps Yahoo group).

 I have never seen the Nightmare Before Christmas, so took the inspiration from the picture supplied.  I have a SIL who is totally all in to Halloween and everything that goes with it, so it will be going postal tomorrow.
  The bottom is a stamp by Rubber Cafe. The image on top of that is by Sweet Stamps and is actually a cork screw image : )  The pumpkins are Clear Dollar Stamps and the sentiment is Stampin Up.

 Lastly, this is an ATC for a lottery at AOSA

 This is for the felt challenge for Falliday. The theme of the ATC lottery this month is fans.  The background is called glue resist.  I stamped Elmers glue on the background with bubble wrap, once dry I used Distress Ink over it.  The fan is Stampin Up and was colored with Distress markers and embossed with clear EP.  The black insert with white image is Memory in the Making by Leisure Arts.

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

CYS-Favorite Beverage

Our 'CYS' aka Craft Your Stash group from SCS has a challenge this month with the theme 'Your Favorite Beverage'.

 Well, I drink alot of black tea....all day, every day!  So, I went with a tea theme : )

 I bought a journal for Bible Journaling a while back, and was able to complete one page in 2/2016.....  I had laid out the idea for the cover and primed it, but put it away and never finished it.  What a perfect time to get it out!
  I painted the cover while in 2016....  so, I tried adding distress inks, but they would not stick.  So, painted the background with acrylic paints in a variety of colors.  I added a stencil by Ranger DYS 34032 and painted using a shimmery gold paint.
  I stamped Sweet and Sassy (SNS His Book) in Black Tuxedo Memento Black ink. (Image on top lt and bottom Rt). They are colored with Copics and/or sponged with ink. I added some shimmer using a Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen.
  On the top sentiment panel, I used a hole punch and added multiple fibers and a cross charm. I also added a butterfly charm. I bought the charm when a stamping shop closed about 3-4 years ago and I am in love with this pretty butterfly.

Challenge:
Summer 2017 Coffee Lovers Blog Hop- Coffee/tea/cocoa
Cards and More- Anything but a Card
Simon Says Stamp Monday- Stencil It
Word Art Wednesday- AG

I decided to also make a card, as I found a package of napkins that I thought would make fun backgrounds....

 I used a dollar stamp that is years old for the martini, and the sentiment is Sweet Stamps.

The CYS group can be located here.  List mom Barb had the brilliant idea- lets use our stash items- with a monthly theme, I am sure finding no shortage of items to use in my creative space...!!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

CYS- Recipe Time

 I have joined a group on Splitcoast where we are Challenged to 'Use our Stash'. Additionally, each month we have a theme- this month is a recipe- use green, use three of something and make a sympathy card.  Such a challenge gets you looking in your stash for some ideas- I had a hard time making a decision, so made 2 cards again this month......

 I cannot remember the last time I used a background image like this with embossing powder!!!  This is called Victorian Lace (Stampin Up) and I bought it around 2001.  It is stamped onto vellum using Versamark and embossed using Fantasy Ivory EP from Sweet Stamps (this EP has a gold glitter in it).  The sentiment is Sweet Stamps. I also used retired cardstock Sage Shadow. I added three pearls, then decided it needed one more to the Lt of the sentiment. 

 

 Well, this fits the recipe too....  I stamped and embossed onto vellum with white EP. The Lilly stamp is by Michael Strong.  I old school colored on the back of the vellum using my SU markers and retired SU cardstock (pretty sure it is Lavender Lace). The green is Garden Green SU cardstock, that is dry embossed. Wink of Stella was used in the centers of the flowers for a little sparkle. I added pearls in groups of three's to finish the recipe.

 This was my month to come up with a challenge.  My Dad died last year in March- one week shy of his 88th Birthday, so Sympathy card was a perfect theme, He was 100% Irish- so Green was the perfect color. Three of something was an added bonus- Dad was super religious- he was three months away from being a priest- spending many years in seminary...so Father, Son and Holy Spirit......  If he had his way, there would be something funny or humorous on the card too : )

 Thanks for the great group Barb- it is so wonderful to use all of these unused stamps and supplies !  I am using 'older stuff' and enjoying every minute of it!

Challenges:
Make My Monday- White embossing
Outlaws-Twisted Thursdays- AG plus embossing
Dare2BArtsy- Lots of Layers
International Art and Soul- Embossing
Craft for the Craic- Green and glittery
Simply Create Too- Lots of Green

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

DTGD Day 6

I moved way slower today, I want to enjoy this process- not worried about whether or not I can do all of the challenges....  rather, enjoying the process and still on a mission to 'use unused stuff'!!!

I made a card from Day 5 and have a person in mind to send it to, she will get a huge kick out of it...
The background is very shimmery- wish it showed up.  The stamps are Sweet Stamps- nice to open them up.  Colored with Copics.

  Next, I found a Die-Version die I had not used (but loved), and made up a wedding card that I need in November. The cardstock is Paper Temptress- beautiful shimmer to it : )  except the black. I embossed the SU sentiment with black EP. The corner dies are Cheery Lynn. The panel under the couple is simply put through an embossing folder. There is a sheet of Vellum over the Ivory cardstock backing- it is old, old SU.

Back to the beach for the next card. I just got these seahorses from Michael Strong Stamps. I made this background in Turquoise, and added a little white with bubble wrap. The sentiment is Create with TLC. I added a little sea weed in Wild Wasabi using a Cheery Lynn die.

 Lastly, I made a card that is so not my style, but like doing this alot- and made 2 of these.  Another unused Die-Versions and a Sweet Stamps stencil.

 My Mother is back at my house, so we will be having some Friday fun- but not too much- she is tired from her adventures in Mass. and NH with my brother and sis!

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

DTGD Day 5

I took it a card at a time and got lots of stamping done today......  Call me crazy, but I am loving stamping and using my 'stuff'!  Here is what I did today:

 A Thank You card for my wonderful co-workers- they had a pot luck luncheon and gave me some special gifts- tea included : )  This is called a double Z-fold card. Sentiment is SU.  Dies are Cheery Lynn, Memory Box and Spellbinders.

  and, opened, where I wrote a note. If you know me, you know I love pink : )

 Another stamp set I have had for some time that has not seen ink......  by Wadsworth.

 Next, I made a gift box using Bordering Blue and sparkly EP with SU Elements of Style set.

Next, I made a Christmas card : )  I made a foam stamp made of a die cut by Cheery Lynn, I stamped Sweet Stamps snowflakes on the background- another resist on glossy white. I decided to add some dimension by cutting it apart with dies. I found some very sparkly and thick cardstock, and cut out the snowflake and added it to the center.

 Next, I finished up a card I started a while ago- and was not sure what to do with it.  Oh, I need a baby Boy card, so thought this was perfect! Images are a really old Su set.

 For the next card, I used an Oriental stamp I HAD to have and have never inked up,  The company is Stamping Sensations and I colored the image just like on the package : ) I used a 100 Copic marker to color the rhinestones.

 One more card- I had this image sitting on my desk, so made a card for a nephews birthday- kinda fun : ) The image is by Michael Strong.

 My Mom is coming back tomorrow- not sure if I will be able to keep this up, but I am having a blast.  I am going to have to cook and clean in between card making!

Thanks for stopping by, Have a great day!
Shelly

DTGD day 4

Way less stamping today- less sitting (bad back), but I did manage to get 3 cards done between stretching and resting......

 So, we had Christmas in July, I made a Halloween card in August...... LOL  I tried out a new EP from Sweet Stamps on the black DP called Psycedelic- it turned out a shimmery purple color. I stamped images, scanned them into the computer and cut them with the Silhouette Scan and Cut feature. I save the files for future cards too : )  The images (Sweet Stamps) are colored with Copics. The DP is We R Memory Crafts Black Widow.
 I am going to enter this into the AG challenge at Sweet Stamps.

 This fun card is made with Create with TLC digi paper, image and sentiment.  Printed out on my new Laser Printer : )  I could never have done the DP with my old printer. The image was colored with Copics. The die is a new one from Gina Marie. I am going to wnter this card into the TLC AG challenge HERE

 Finally, I had to join in Vickis challenge and make a cheery card : )  This is all SU. The BG is called wax paper resist. I used SU markers to color in the images. The cardstock is all retired SU colors.

 I had trigger point injections in my neck today, resting but will get back at creating a little later today- well see what the day brings!

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Dare to Get Dirty

Enjoying my new retirement by Stamping, and more Stamping!!!  I am not sure I will be able to keep up though- this is alot of stamping!!!

  A one layer card- masker off the edges with Post-it notes. Images by Sweet Stamps

 This background ws made by dribbling reinkers onto watercolor paper, then sprinkling on water droplets. I let the green dry before I did the red so it would not get muddy. The Hummingbird die is Gina Marie, the sentiment North Coast Creations

Oh, back in the day SU made this fun stamp. I made this emboss resist card with Turquoise and Not Quite Navy SU inks.  The sentiment- Create with TLC.

 I sprayed Dylusions over a cross chipboard from Sweet Stamps. I then removed the center piece and sprayed on a little bit different yellow. Overstamped the back with a sentiment, added the main sentiment, a little ribbon and some sequins. This set is from Sweet and Sassy Stamps.

 I just bought this older PSX stamp, how I love tulips!  I had some watercolor fun!  The text stamp is an older SU stamp.

 
Whew- you can see after a day of stamping, I need a drink...LOL  I love this funny lemon by Avery Elle. The background was made on a Gelly Plate. The drink and lemon are Lawn Fawn.

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Bridal Shower Goodies

I had fun with the shower and stamped up some goodies for each person. Remember back in the day when we stamped on label sheets???

 This is 4 treat boxes together. I love how they turned out.

I took pictures as the process unfolded:

 This is a page of labels- I stamped using a set called Always on my Mind from Sweet Stamps. There is also a small silver/gray wedding ring stamped on the labels from Paper Smooches.

 Here are the labels wrapped around the Hershey Nuggets : )

Next, I took small strips of Pool Party CS, and cut into pieces a pinch smaller than the clear box.

 Insert the dividers, then the candy-into the clear box. Here is the box (Denami Designs).

 To finish these off, just add ribbon and a die cut wedding ring from Paper Smooches from Silver Metallic cardstock : )

Sweet Stamps -AG challenge
Happy Little Stampers- die cut
Sparkles Forum Challenge- July- wedding

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Lilly Thanks

 I need Thank You cards by the numbers this week, so made 4 of these for starters for my Michael Strong Yahoo Group Day 3 card.

 I used a really old piece of Vellum that I have been hoarding- it has a purple hue to it. I embossed the lillies using white EP, then colored them with Copics V12 and V15 and G82. The cardstock is retired SU. The sentiment is from Sweet Stamps. I debated adding ribbon and embellishments, but I have to mail this card, so will stop at this point.

Challenges:
Cards in Envy- Just Purple
Creative Card Crew- CAS
One Stitch at a Time- Embossing
Paper Players- Celebrate Spring CAS

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Cloisonne Eggs

This is day 2 of my week of posting for Michael Strong Stamps Yahoo group. Today, another un-inked stamp was used (yeah!).

 and the inside:

 I used Mini Shapes and the Mini Shapes dies sets. I stamped the images using Black Memento Tuxedo ink. The images were colored with Copics.  The basket image is from Sweet Stamps. The ribbon is from Paper Temptress ( *and is on sale now).  The sentiment and Lt upper stamp- are from SU. The DSP is old SU. The sequins are from a FB group buy : )

 Challenges:
Sweet Stamps-AG monthly challenge
 Pink Gem Challenge- Easter
Allsorts- Easter
Coffee, Chocolate and Cards- Use Ribbon
Double D Challenge - Easter

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Winter Evelyn Tag

I love how this tag turned out!  I saw a challenge at the Outlawz and had to play........

 This is Evelyn : ) Sweet Stamps just released this image- she is just darling and so fun to color.
First, I cut out the images on my Cameo using the Scan and Cut feature.  Then I colored the image with Copics, I added liquid applique and glitter on her coat and boots. I added Sakura Gelly Roll pen on the snowflakes.
 The background is watercolor crayons (Baja Blue, Wasabi and Pink) scribbled on and the spritzed. For texture, I added Thick Gesso with a credit card thru a Sweet Stamps stencil Snowflower. Once dry, I used a Baja Blue Watercolor crayon and took a baby wipe and got the blue off the gesso. Next, I painted crackle distress paint over that. Next, I added Stickles over the raised textured areas of the gesso. That is liquid applique on her trim with glitter sprinkled over it. I added fibers and sequins and called it a day.

Challenges:
Outlawz- Paper Ala Mode- Tags
Sweet Stamps- Feb AG
Alphabet Challenge- You choose
Creative Artiste- Mixed Media- entry #2
Frilly and Funkie- embossing (paste)

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Faux Cloisonne

 The Oriental Stamp Art technique challenge for January was Faux Cloisonne.

  I added the challenge to a Swap using a postage stamp (image from Google). I stamped the Apple Blossom image and embossed it in Queens Gold EP onto Vellum. I colored in the image using Twinkling H2O's.

   The real technique uses darker cardstock for the base or magazine pages- but I wanted to use plain vellum.....
I love the shimmer on the apple blossoms : )

Challenges:
Moving Along with the Times- Embossing
Sweet Stamps-AG

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Vase ATC

For the October Oriental Stamp Art ATC swap, the theme was Vase.  Here is the ATC I created:

  I used Distress Inks on the background, some Stenciling, overstamping with Asian Kanji. I stamped the Vase image (company UK) using Versamark and then Distress ink, and embossed it with clear EP.  I added a Sweet Stamps floral image. I stamped the image a 2nd time, and fussy cut out those little flowers and added them to the top.

Sweet Stamps has an Anything Goes challenge. Brown Sugar has a challenge calling for flowers.

 Here is the beautiful ATC I received in exchange from Sandy N. :

 The shimmer and glimmer is amazing on this beautiful ATC IRL.

I am in Ky with my parents for a few days. Wish they lived closer.......  Here is a pic of them:

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly