Firecracker Designs A-P-R-I-L Blog Hop

It’s that time again-for a BLOG HOP with the crew from Firecracker Designs by Pamela. The HOP officially starts at 8AM 4/16 and runs through Monday 4/19. This month we are challenged to do word play-I chose A-P-R-I-L as my word to describe my card-my Birthday month!
       
A-Already cut out-yes, I did not do all of that cutting!  These shapes come in THIS SET already cut out (minus the star and the umbrella)!
P-Paradise-from “Happy Hour” the Stamp Set I used- yep-still LOVE my rubber!
R-Rope and mesh embellish the background
I-Iridescent-the shimmerz I applied to the centers of the flowers which were all colored with Copic markers
L-Little microbeads on the tops of the Margarita glasses………mmmmmmmmm  (The straw on the glass on the right is the stem of the flower in the set).
Our Blog Hop is a circular hop- so when you arrive back to my blog, you are done.  If you post a comment at each blog along the way, you will be entered to WIN- the prize hostess is a secret-even to us- only Pamela knows….!
Your Next Stop is TESA
Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Creative Inspirations Sketch Challenge

        
We have a Sketch challenge from Creative Inspiration Paints Blog and I took the opportunity to use some new stamps (I bought them a month ago!) from Heartfelt Creations.
 You stamp these stamps and they fit exactly in the Nestability! This particular flower-wildflower fits into the Peony nestability- there are as many stamps as there are nestabilities in a set. Here is a link to watch a video of how this works: http://www.heartfeltcreations.us/Stamps-MatchingNestibilitiesVideos.php
(Now I will be able to find the url next time I make something with these)………if I can remember where I put this link....
Once cut out, I layered a 'center' into the flower, and ‘fluffed’ it up so it would be dimensional.  I added Tallings in the center of each flower (Barbara Trombley elements).  I used a small Cuttlebug folder-which I had to cut open in order for it to be in the right direction……. I used white core Dk brown CS- and when sanded the white core shows.  I painted the white areas with Creative Inspiration Paints- Citrus and Green Olive for the leaves, Tutu Pink and Blush for the flowers. I used Fairy Dust CI Paint on the flowers- can you see the shimmer??? 
The edge is a Martha Stewart Punch. The sentiment is Sweet n Sassy from the Easter Lilly Set.
Challenges:
Creative Belli-die cut shapes- The Flowers!
Lots to Do-embossing
Corrosive challenge-texture
Practical Scrappers-glitter/bling
Cuttlebug Spot-Bling
Pollycraft-Pink/Brown/Green
Roses on Paper-layers
ABC-sparkle
Quixotic-Heavy Metals (tallons)
Want to win some CI paints???  Check this post HERE to see how you can WIN 4 jars of CI paints and 10 yards of SU double sided Satin 5/8” ribbon!
Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Stamps R Us Challenge 5-April SHowers

Come Join the Stamps R Us Bloggers.  We participate in a monthly challenge- this month it is my turn to post the challenge.
Our theme this month is April Showers- we can use any images or items related to showers for our cards.  Use an umbrella, and image with raindrops or favors for any type of shower.  Please only post new cards or favors.
One lucky participant will be randomly chosen to win one yard of each of the 10 SU double sided satin ribbons and 4 jars of the new Creative Inspirations Paints.  Wahoo!  Come play along- you have until April 30th to enter.  Post your entry Here on the Stamps are us Blog and check back on May 1st to see if you are a winner!
Image is House Mouse, Sentiment Clear Dollar Stamps. Image was water colored and Spica pen added for glitz- which is hard to see in my picture.  SU cardstock, DSP SU and Basic Grey.
Sketch is from Papertake
Other challenges:
Quixotic-Joys of Spring
Stampin Sisters in Christ-Peace
Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Spring chick

I made a quick card for the D2D (Designed2Delight) weekly post- a weekly freebie is issued IF you post a card with the freebie from last week.  (You can also purchase the image to get started, then post a card with it and get the next one free). 
I colored the image with Copic markers, added a touch of clear Spica for some glitz- this card is not true to color- I cannot get it to look right- so just posted the best shot of it.
The background is a Technique Junkies technique called double buggin’ and the 3 strips behind the card are scraps of Faux Velvet-also a TJ technique- left over from a prior card.  The Faux Velvet is very shimmery IRL- it is done with Creative Inspiration Paints in a mini-mister mixed with Water- and gives a wonderful shimmer on anything you spray it on!
Challenges this card fulfills:
Quixotic-Joys of Spring (unless flowers make you sneeze : ) )
Lots to Do –embossing
Practical Stampers-Markers
Corrosive challenge-textures
Belli Challenge-color sprays
Stamptacular-Spots and Dots
Practical Scrappers-glitter/bling
Cuttlebug Spot-Bling
Designed2Delight-digi freebie
Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Bloggers Challenge-Alter It

The Bloggers Challenge this week is to ‘Alter It’. I decided to make a sewing kit for my daughter. 


  Have you ever been somewhere and had a button pop off or a strap of a dress ‘pop’…..yikes…  I have- so I always carry a needle and thread of some type… ( My children are all required to know how to sew on a button prior to leaving for college). 
   I traced around the lid of the tin and made a template for the Basic Grey DSP. Then I stamped and colored in the House Mouse image and colored it with Copic Markers and Creative Inspirations (CI) Paint on the spool of thread.  I painted a Prima flower with CI paint, and then decided to add a little ric rac painted with CI paint as well.  The purple strip in the background is called faux velvet, and it is done with CI paint and is a Technique Junkies technique. I added purple ribbon around the ‘rim’ of the tin to finish it off.  Add a piece of adhesive backed magnetic strip, and needles and pins will stay in place in your sewing kit-on the lid- you can make it as short or long as you please.  If you are traveling, put a fingernail clipper in the kit to cut your thread if needed, and airport security will not take your scissors away……….
To view other projects click here-  Bloggers Challenge –to see more ‘Altered Items’.
A few other Challenges for this project:
Our Creative Corner-Buttons
Flourishes-Bought it-use it!  (Stamp and ric rac!)
Cute Card Thursday-Mono Mania
Craft Challenge-Buttons
Practical Scrappers-Markers
One Stitch at a Time-anything goes
Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!
Shelly

New Wedding stamps at FCD-Preorder now

Pamela at Firecracker Designs has a preorder sale going on for two new Wedding Sets.

From Pamela:
From time to time, I will offer new plates at a pre-order special price. This means I have not yet ordered the rubber for them, so I will offer a lower price if you pay for your stamps before I order them. These sales are usually pretty short, only 2 or 3 days, so be sure to place your pre-order before the price goes back to it's regular amount. Orders will ship on a first ordered basis, as soon as I get them in. (usually about 2 weeks after the sale ends) Thanks!
All of these sets are red rubber, unmounted, and untrimmed.
Click the thumbnail for larger pix, and set details!!
This pre-sale will only be up til April 11th!!
Here are the sets- $6.99 for ALL of these stamps (each set).


Here is the link to the website for Firecracker Designs by Pamela .
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Did you know Pamela offers FREE Digital stamps each week?  After a week, there is a new one posted and the previous stamp goes into the store for sale- we’d love to see what you create!!! (The link is for the current freebie).
Shelly

Welcome Lil Hooters- OSU Chi Omega Sorority

  I was never involved in the sorority life in college- as I graduated from a community college and then transferred to a University later (I was too old for it …..LOL) 
  My daughter loves being in a sorority, and it is time to initiate ‘Lil’s’ into the sorority- they have a winter Rush and the new recruits join them in the Spring.  She asked me to make something for the new recruits in her ‘family- she and her ‘lil’ have twins joining their ‘family’ –as there were more new recruits than there were Sophomore students- they have two- so they call them twins (my daughter is a twin, so she is enjoying having some fun with the idea).
My daughter asked me to make the ‘twins’ mailboxes. So I got to work and made some mailboxes with her school theme.  Ohio State ‘Buckeyes’ and the Sorority Mascot is the Owl (hence Hooters). 
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The stamps- Firecracker Designs by Pamela
The owls are colored with Copics E33, E35, W1, W3, W5
Buckeye- DRS (Found it at Marco’s paper)
Sorority stamps I found online…somewhere…
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College is just flying by for us- my twins are just shy of finishing their third year(s) at college-seems like just yesterday………..
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Thanks for stopping by to share in my crafting creations!
Shelly

D2D Let Your Light Shine

Faith over at D2D gave us a lighthouse to use this week as our free digital image. 

  I used a combination of techniques to color the image- the water, shore, lighthouse and the yellow light are Copic markers, the clouds and sky are water colored. I added Creative Inspiration Paint over the white wash of the waves and the yellow light from the lighthouse.
  For the water, I scribbled multiple blue Copics over the bottom of the page and blended the colors together.  The sandy dune hill is brown Copics and I took a little colorless blender and dabbed it on a washcloth, and dabbed the dune. That gives the dune texture.

I left the card blank so I could add a sentiment later.
I hope you had a Blessed Easter.
Thanks for stopping by,
Shelly

Bloggers Challenge Easter

The Bloggers Challenge this week is Easter. I made a card for my daughter who is at college.  I found this cute digital image by All That Scraps. I colored it with Copic markers and a Spica pen.  I used E0000, E000, E02, B000, B00, B02, Y11. Y13, E15, and R20. I used two Technique Junkies techniques Color Outside the lines and Sanded Coordinations.  The outside color of Blue coordinates with the cardstock- looks better IRL.  I used Mercy’s sketch challenge-which I flipped on it’s side.
Challenges for this card:
Bloggers Challenge-link on my sidebar
Corrosive Challenge-Easter/Spring
Incy Wincy-Use sewing
Pink Elephants-Use Pastels
Papertake Weekly-Easter
Tanda Teaser-Rabbit
Crafty Creations-Anything Goes
Cooking It up With Katie-something new/old/sweet
Dare U to Digi-Easter
Have  a Blessed Easter!!!
Shelly

New Creative Inspirations Paint –Oh the shimmer……..

Here is a project I made for a color challenge at the Creative Inspirations Paint Blog- colors Yellow, green and lavender.  Sadly, I am in need of two sympathy cards.
 
I made the background of this card using a new Technique Junkies Faux Velvet technique- love it in real life!  The technique called for glimmer mist- I used my CI paint instead- I put water in my mini mister, and loaded the end of my paintbrush with paint, then stirred it inside the mini mister, adding paint until it was the correct color.  Here I used Light purple then Royal purple. I wish I could capture the shimmer in the background! 
I colored this image from Firecracker Designs by Pamela with the Marker Watercolor Wash technique, then painted over the top with Creative Inspirations Paints Light Purple, Mango and Sunshine.  The SU marker colors are Lovely Lilac, Crushed Curry and Dusty Durango.  There is a very pale highlight of Curry around the image. I added Old Olive leaves around the rose to highlight.

Here is the same technique done with Sunshine Creative Inspirations paint in the mini mister-again, wish I could capture the shimmer. I painted the image as above and applied the CI paint over the top. There is a very pale Lilac wash outside the image. The CS is Crushed Curry from SU. 
 These cards were inspired by the Creative Belli challenge-spray it (shimmer).
The Creative Inspirations Paints are easy to use, they are water based, and a little goes a long way!  You can paint buttons, brads, paper, plastic, etc!!!  If you paint them over Copic coloring, the blending will show through. You can also color ribbon and flowers to match your project. The paints come in more than 50 colors! 
Thanks so much for stopping by- I hope these cards will bring comfort to my friends who have lost loved ones.
Shelly