Creative time

I got into a fender bender and am stuck at home while my car is in repair, so had some fun creating : )

 I got out the last TJ newsletter and decided upon using the Gesstenciled Crayons technique to make some cards and ATCs.  I used a Stampin Up set for the kites and the sentiment, and SU DSP.

 This is the same Sketch and DSP, but I used a Technique Junkies stamp called Serenity Butterfly.

Challenges:
Sketch Saturday -Sketch
Crazy 4 Challenges- Kites
One Crazy Stamper- AG
Addicted to Stamping-AG

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

Art Journaling through Proverbs-Week 1

 I joined a group last week Art Journaling through Proverbs. Week 1:

 Each week we get a verse to create with. This week Proverbs 31:20-21
 "She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy. She fears not the snow for her household; all her charges are double clothed".  (In the non-Catholic version the verse reads all her charges are clothed in scarlet).

 I am using a small journal instead of writing in a bible (only Catholic Journaling bible I could find was $80.00)..... The Sacred Heart of Jesus is in the upper corner, the hearts are the blood he shed for us and his love- going down to the hands where the love is passed on from one person to another. The tree is a family tree where HIS word is passed on. I copied Proverbs 31 and torn the text for the tree out of that copy.

I used Geatos for the background. I tool a baby wipe and removed Gelato (where you see white- Gesso under the Gelato's). I added more stenciling using distress inks. 

I love doing journaling and thought this would be a great way to get me 'doing it'!  

Challenges: 
Creative Artiste- AG Mixed Media
Word Art Wednesday- AG

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Happy Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year this year begins Feb 8th and it is the year of the Monkey. 

  I was excited to see a Monkey digi as a gift on Michael Strong's Blog.  I printed it out, and took a copy of it and reversed it in Word- I am not too smooth with tecky stuff, so just eyeballed it to see the reversed one matched up to the other and got lucky : ) 
  I colored the image with Copics and then glued them together. I added a thin strand of thread through the monkeys hand and attached it to the top portion only. The Yellow & Red Washi design used is also a freebie from Michael Strong (same post as the monkey digi).  I printed it and added strips of it to the top and bottom- in China, even numbers are considered lucky (except 4 which is like 13 here- unlucky number!!! ).

 The Four Way card is a tutorial at Splitcoaststampers. It is quick and easy to make. I would just suggest using a die no bigger than the one I used as the sides will get wobbly if it were any bigger. It does lay flat for mailing as well.

Here is a little info about Chinese New Year- it is also known as the Spring Festival in China.

 Challenges:
ABC Challenge- A is for Animals
Card Mania- Red
Creative Card Crew- AG
Critters and Creatures- AG something colored


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

Dogs-love and fur : )

I made a card for a One Card a Month Swap in the Enjoy Michael Strong Yahoo Group.

and I made a punched border for the inside:

I used a tutorial for the Woodgrain background from Karen Ds blog- link HERE  I used distress inks and played around with the look I wanted. I started with Antique Linen, added Weathered WOod, used a touch of Brushed Corduroy and a tiny touch of Stormy Sky.  I scored at every 1/2" on a 4" x 5.25" piece of white Georgia Pacific cardstock which had Elmers glue painted on in up and down stripes.

Image Cloisonne Dog by Michael Strong, Sentiment Technique Junkies (Dog Quotes S137)

 Challenges:
Rubys Rainbow- Animal Magic
City Crafter- For the Love of Pets
Tuesday Throwdown- AG
 
Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

ATC's- Circles

My ATC group theme for the January swap was 'Circles'.

 I used Gelli plate backgrounds on Deli papers, cut out a Memory Box flower die which seemed just perfect. The flowers and dragonflies (Cheery Lunn die)
 are cut from waste napkins from a workshop using shimmery sprays. I added white gel pen circles and a jewel on each flower center.

Here are the trades I received
 back:

Left: Linda O
Center: Mary W and shimmery circles
Right by Carol- tin man

Left- Harriet
2nd from Lt-Diane S
2nd from Rt-Carol
Right- Mari S

Left- Marcy
Center: Joann used a stencil and shimmery paint and glittery shapes
Right- Dee De

Lt- collage- Noreen
Rt Cindy K using acrylic thru the embossing machine and glued it to cardstock.

 Barb I. from Florida sent up swaps- she was in the area, but we could not work out meeting up.  I traded ATC's for her.

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Bugaboo Day 7

The theme for the Bugaboo 6th Birthday Bash is a recipe :1 animal, 2 layers, 3 brads, bling or buttons.

 Having limited supplies is a bit challenging, and I cannot find the bling a brought with me- luckily, I found three rhinestones here : )   I was also not sure whether the base layer is one and the elephant layer is two, so to be on the safe side, I went with the above card.

  Dad is having a rough day today, feeling aches and pains as people do after surgery.....  He is doing better than I expected and I am thankful for that.  He is very chatty and knows all of the staff, who is married, where everyone lives, etc.......even when he does not feel well.
  I am hanging in there- have a stuffy head and cough that is making me have full out asthma attacks- got started on antibiotics and steroids tonight.......  Oh boy!

Anyway, Happy 6th Birthday to Bugaboo!  Thanks for a fun challenge- I now have a few B-day cards on hand : )

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Bugaboo Day 6

For day 6 of the Bugaboo 6th B-day bash, we have a photo inspiration.

 I used the colors and the circles, plus the elephant from the inspiration picture. I punched out 3/4" and 1" circles, ran them thru an embossing folder and added them to the card. Inspiration from a couple of members of the DT. I used a rarely used Spellbinders die for the image and cut it out again in the blue and brown.
 The image is colored with Copics and I added lots of Stickles to the image too.

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly

Bugaboo Day 5

The Bugaboo Day 5 theme is to make it funny : )

I thought an Over the Hill card would be funny, as that is where I am at in life.....the over 50 crowd..... The image was colored with Copics and the sentiment is from Create with TLC.  I added on 'Spectacles' aka reading glasses... with a black pen.....

I could not get a good picture of this card- it looks a bit better IRL......

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly