Operation Write Home-Mid-week Throw down Plus Free Digi’s

  The Mid-week Throw down at the Operation Write Home Blog is Sponsored by Boni Bleaux Designs this week.  There are free digital images available-humorous of course- to make cards for the man in your life.

  This is one of the freebie images- he reminds me of Sarge from Gomer Pyle ………..LOL  The sentiment says, “I wear the pants….My wife tells me which ones”.
  I made the embossing folder with a Technique Junkies tutorial from the latest newsletter and sanded it exposing the white core under it.  I used a die cut exclusive to Scrap Mart- and cut off the rounded sides and top…….  I also colored and trimmed portions of the image and they are on dimensionals (the hat and the clothes). There is no glitter allowed on cards for soldiers, but I learned I CAN highlight with Copic Spica pens- so I did- on the star, the metal and the flagpole.  The cards are better if not bulky- or the soldiers will have to pay customs fees.
Boni Bleaux Designs is also having a 50% off sale tomorrow on Christmas Digi’s.
  There is another free digi offered HERE- for a chance to be the Guest Designer with the DT on the Dude Time Doodles Challenge Blog hosted by Boni Bleaux Designs.

Challenges:
Stamps R Us-Anything Goes
Artful Inkables-Die Cuts/punches
Stamp Something-Anything Digital
Digi’s with Attitude-Use a Digi
Mami Doodles-Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today!
Shelly

Stamps R US-Anything Goes

 Stamps R Us has an ‘Anything Goes’ challenge going on, so I took the opportunity to play with a couple of fun images from Boni Bleaux Designs. 

Here is the Sketch:

I colored my ‘Dude’ with Copic markers, and highlighted the tree, ornaments, star and beer cans with Creative Inspirations Paint. I dude-led around the edges of my die cut, and to finish off my card, fringed the bottom layer like a rug.  The sentiment is from My Favorite Things.
Life is good- I bet the girls are out Christmas shopping…..or, they are in the kitchen making something delicious for dinner…….
There is also a freebie available now at the Dude Time Doodles blog for a chance to be the next Guest Designer- for a month!  Let me tell you, they are a very fun and energetic bunch! Entries are due by this Friday 12/17.

Challenges:
Stamps R Us-Anything Goes
Dude Time Doodles-Sketch
Creative Inspirations-Star
Crafty Ho’s-Red and Green
Crafty Emma-Anything but a Christmas Card
Stamp Something-anything digital
Stampin B’s-Use a star (on the Christmas Tree)

Thanks for stopping by today!
Shelly

Creative Inspirations Paint give-away winner

 This never happens to me......The winner for my blog giveaway

I never leave the 1st comment on blog candy!  Wow- Congrats Shar- you have 48 hours to send me your address and you can go to the CI website and pick out 6 jars of CI paint.

Congrats and Thanks to everyone who played along!
Shelly

Firecracker Designs Last Days

 
 I just wanted to post a reminder that Firecracker Designs by Pamela is closing- last day for orders is 12/15 (Wednesday).
Pamela has:
-rubber stamps priced so low she is practically givig them away!
-Shimmerz
-Twinkling H2O's
-Flower Soft
-Acrylic blocks

The Digital images are NOT on sale- Pamela will continue to sell Digital images.
Shelly

Creative Inspiration Paints- Inspired by a Snowglobe

 For my Creative Inspirations Paint post today, I had some fun with merging digital images.  I found a tutorial HERE on Bird's Blog.  I used her Snowglobe and merged a darling snowman by Clear Dollar Stamps into it.  (The snowman and the sentiment are free and the snowman comes as a line drawing and pre-colored).  There is also a CDS challenge for December (at the CDS blog)- use three blues on a card plus use a CDS image.

 This card is so shimmer IRL!  I took a mini-mister and Sapphire Creative Inspirations Paint and made a shimmer spray.  I filled up the mini mister ~ 2/3 full with water, then added CI paint in with a paintbrush- swirled it around- when it looked like I wanted it too, I sprayed with the mini-mister over an Impressability snowflake die. 
 I colored the image with Copic markers, then painted over that with CI paint- you can even see Copic blending under the Ci paint!  I used Antique Silver and Onyx for the base of the snowglobe, then colored in the snow and snowman with Fairy Dust CI paint.  (I did not color the hat, carrot or the vest).  I took my aquapainter and dotted on the CI paint to mimic snowflakes. 

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  How would you like to win 6 jars of Creative Inspirations Paint- you choose the color?

Just leave a comment here- and if you post this on your side bar, I will enter you twice (just stop back and let me know)!

I will draw a winner on Sunday - winner will have 48 hours to contact me- so please make sure I have a way to contact you!

 And, if you are a follower and live outside the USA, I will gladly ship the paints to you if you win.

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Challenges for this card:

Clearly Inspired (CDS)-three colors of blue and CDS image

Gingersnaps-snowpeople

Freshly Brewed-Sparkle and shine

Simon Says Stamp-Christmas but no red or green

Digital Tuesday-Digi plus baby it's cold outside

Thanks for stopping by today!

Shelly

PS- Did you know Creative Inspirations Paint has a weekly challenge- you do not have to use CI paint and there is a monthly drawing to WIN paints.  The current challenge is Inspired by a Snowglobe (Your card does not have to have a snowglobe).
  Also, the DT posts daily- please stop by if you have a little time and check it out!  Tutorials are posted each Saturday.  HERE is the direct link for the DT posts.
  DO you have Inspirations Paint?  Please drop by and link your creations in the upper Rt corner of the blog- we'd love to be inspired by you!

Creative Belli #106- Use anything Christmassy

 Anything Christmassy is the Belli Challenge theme for the next two weeks- that would include paper, ribbon, snowflakes, charms, etc....... 

  The snowflake stamp is from Penny Black. The Sentiment is a digi from Clear Dollar Stamps.
I colored the snowflakes with Copics and highlighted the image and the snowflakes with a Copic Spica pen. I used a lonely snowflake punch and finally got to use the rhinestones I bought last winter.....  The aim of the Belli blog is to use older supplies that may have been forgotten......  This background is a Technique Junkies unknown- I have no clue what the technique is- I will have to go see if I can figure it out!  I also added machine Zig-Zag stitching around the edge of the card.

   Be sure to visit the Creative Belli Challenge Design Team Member's blogs to read more details about their designs. You will find lots of awesome ideas!!! If you upload a card to Splitcoast , PCP, Stamp TV or another online gallery be sure to add CBC106 in the keywords section.
 Anne Harmon, , Ceal Pritchett, Chris Dickinson - Creator, Chris Olsen. Darsie Bruno, Holly Brown - Creator, Jessica Stockmeyer, Joan Ervin, Joy Hadden, Karen Wallace, Maria Matter, , Mary Marsh,
Robin Kirkpatrick , Robin Parker- all of the links are on my sidebar


I was inspired by the following additional challenges:
A Spoonful of Sugar-Christmas
Crazy Challenge-Christmas
Paper Playtime-Snowflakes
Stamptacular-Blue Christmas
Secret Crafter-Christmas
Wags n Whiskers-snowflakes
CCEE Stampers-Snowman
Cute Card Thursday-Blue
Paper Romance-Winter
Gingersnap Creations- Snowpeople



Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Adventures with Stencils

Last month, the Technique Junkies newsletter had a few tutorials for working with stencils. I have quite a few Brass Stencils and I really enjoy trying new things. Here are a couple of cards I created with my stencils.

This stencil is by Dreamweaver and the Paper is from Paper Temptress.  I just love that it came out because these are so many curves and notches in the design !
Challenges:
One Stitch at a time-old stash, new stash (new stencil and punch, paper has been in my stash.....)
Stamp With Dragon-Fantasy

This stencil is from ACD and the sentiment is from Firecracker Designs by Pamela.  The SU DSP has a very similar design.
Challenges:
Stampin Sisters in Christ-White with a splash of Red
Corrosive Challenge-Red and White
Christmas Card Challenge-Monochromatic


Thanks for stopping by! Shelly

Lots of ATC’s

The ATC group I am a part of met for a Holiday gathering today. We had a great time.
  I have Lots of ATC’s to share today

First I want to share the ATC I made for the 1-4-1 share we do each month (over and above the 12 we make to swap).  ON the Fun with ATC’s blog- the challenge is a side step ATC- I used my Artistic Outpost OZ set again and a yellow TJ background for the shimmery Stair Step color.  The images were all colored with Copics and the Rt side has Soft Sky sponged on-does not show too well in my photo.  (The bike is AO also from another set).  There is a link on the Fun with ATC site for the dimensions to make this. 
Next is my ATC for the swap- I used a Fred She Said colored digital image.  The background is embossed with the Swiss Dots folder- I think it mimics snow….. 


Challenges:
Digi Doodles-Let it Snow
Paper Romance-Winter theme
Craft your Days Away-texture
Betty Bee’s Buzz-Fred She Said digi
   Next, I wanted to share the ATC’s I recieved in the swap:

By Diane M- the one on the right is the special 1-4-1 and it is an ATC that opens like a card.

Lt-Sandy M – Alcohol Inks on metal
Middle-Lynn- Embossed angel- has a layer of tulle over the top- a very pretty effect
Rt- Harriet R

Mary W-Red magazine collage
Rt- Carol

Lt- Diane S
Middle-Cindy K
Rt-Mary W (this is one piece of a thin strip in the shape of a star)

Lt-Marcy
Rt-Mari
Finally- we have the option when swapping to choose an ATC from any prior swap as well- Michelle had gorgeous Holiday ATC’s, but I choose to pick a prior ATC that is truly gorgeous:

The fish is on Acetate, colored with pearl pens. There is a dimensional that pops up the fish and the BG looks like it is underwater- there are fibers inside and the back of the acetate has stickles or glitter on it.  Way cool IRL!
Next are my Recycle ATC’s that I rec’d

Lt- Mona H- Pop/Soda Tab
Middle-MC Sparks- Pringles lid (upper Lt corner)
Rt-Diane M- map recycled
Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Bloggers Challenge-Ornament

     For our Bloggers Challenge this week, our group  ‘Mom’ Lisa challenged us with the theme ornament(s).  I chose to make cards, as once again I have put off making holiday cards…..

 I used my new ornament digi from Fred She Says Digitals. I colored the ornament with Copic Spica Pens and the foilage is colored with Copic Markers. I added a dot of White Gel Pen to accent the berries.
I used Basic Grey Figgy Pudding DSP and added a strip of blue ‘Instant Crackle’  from a previous Technique Junkies newsletter done with a little shimmery Radiant Pearls that has been punched out with a MS edge punch.  I added sewing around the edge and some rhinestones for bling. 

 



















The second card is done with a TJ technique using Pearl-ex Reflux Violet.  My husband is not fond of the Purple- but I love it!   I added a little grey ribbon organdy gathered in a Zig-Zag pattern.

HERE is the link to stop by the other Bloggers Challenge players blogs to see their interpretation of an ORNAMENT .
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Gathering ribbon in a Zig Zig:
I used 5/8” ribbon for this card.  Start on one end with a needle and thread to match the ribbon color.  I used my thread doubled.  Secure your thread end (Knot thread and secure it on the end of the ribbon- I folded this ribbon under so the raw edge is sewn under ~ 3/8 inch).

    Make stitches as shown by the dotted lines in a Zig-Zag pattern . The farther apart you make your Zigs and Zags, the wider the ruffle will be when gathered.  (Grosgrain is thicker and will result in wider ruffles). You may want to secure one end when you start to pull the thread to gather the ribbon, as it will want to twist.  I gather the ribbon as I go and cut off the ribbon when I am satisfied with how the ruffled ribbon looks.
  You can sew the ribbon down by machine, or use sticky tape to attach it to your project.  If you use an ATC gun or a glue glider pro, take it and run ~ 3/8”-1/2” on a scrap cardstock, and roll it up into a little glue dot ball and use that to attach the ribbon anywhere you want it to lay flat- that is what I did on the either side of the card with the ends of the ribbon.
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Challenges for my cards:
Bloggers Challenge
One Stitch at a Time- Glitz it up- both cards
Karber Weekly-Digi and Sparkle
Pink Elephant-Blue, Red and Green
ABC Christmas-Christmas and Yuletide Holly and Berries/Red and Green
Creative Cottage-Untraditional Christmas Colors-Purple and Turquoise
Stampin B’s-Purple and Turquoise and something Shiney-2nd card
Alphabet-F is for foilage
Betty Bees Buzz-Use Fred She Said Digi

Thanks for stopping by today!
Shelly

ATC swaps-Recycle and Your Favorite Book

I have been MIA- having a terrible headache that will not go away!  I wanted to post a couple of ATC swaps I just submitted.

 For the Gingerwood ATC swap Recycle- I decided to try a flower with a water bottle lid- inspired by Wanda on this post. My flower idea changes when I came across a windmill stamp by Artistic Outpost.  It is a little different, but it is a recycle project- and I still am going to try the flower…

  For a Rubberstamp Chat ‘Your Favorite Book’  swap, I made ATC’s using another great stamp set from Artistic Outpost ‘OZ’.  I just love this set and just as luck would have it, the new Technique Junkies newsletter is online….Wahoo!  I used the Pencil Resist technique- too cool!  I made 8 ATC’s and for a change did not make them all the same .

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly