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

Creative Inspirations-Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

For my Creative Inspirations Paint  post today, I wanted to add a little glitz to my card- but not to the Pilgrims…so…..  I embossed the white cardstock background with a Tim Holtz folder, then did a highlight with Real Rust ink ( retired SU) on the raised areas.  Using my Aqua painter I added Fairy Dust Creative Inspirations Paint over the Rust highlighting. 
The image from I Brake for Stamps (Embossing Arts) is colored with Copic markers.  The sentiment is a digi  from Create with TLC
Inspired by Challenges:
Tellen’s Place-Give Thanks
Crafty Emma-Lovely Lace
Cupcake Inspiration- Inspiration Photo
Stampin Sisters in Christ-Thankfulness to God
Sentimental Sundays-Be Thankful
Crafty Ho’s-Sketch
Spoonful of Sugar- Anything goes
Fab n Funky-Go with the Flow
** Have a wonderful Day!**
Thanks for stopping by
Shelly

Creative Belli Challenge #105- Use something that begins with an ‘R’

The Belli challenge for the next two weeks is to use anything that begins with an ‘R’.  I had a great time going through my stash looking for supplies that would fit the bill.  I ended up creating this card:

The Belli premise is to use old and possibly forgotten embellishments- I had fun with ric rac that I purchased a LONG time ago- from the Target $ spot…… I cut a piece to fit my card, and then cut another piece and wound it around itself to create the braided look that I sewed down over a red strip. 
  
keep winding…it may want to twist a touch

  I used an image from SU. The DSP is from My Minds Eye. I added RED cardstock (SU) with my blue sparkly ric rac braid. There is a layer of Soft Sky under that punched with the SU scalloped edge punch.  I colored the image with Copics and used Polar White Flower Soft on the coat trim and the snow. The snowflake is punched in Soft Sky and acetate.  I covered the acetate with Creative Inspirations Paint and added RED rhinestones in the center.  Finally, I added RED thread in a Zig-Zag stitch around the edge of the card. 
(HERE is a tutorial I wrote about sewing on cards.)
Be sure to visit the Creative Belli 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 CBC105 in the keywords section.
Chris Dickinson
Ceal Pritchett
Holly Brown
Anne Harmon
Robin Kirkpatrick
Jessica Stockmeyer
Shelly Schmidt
Maria Matter
Darsie Bruno
Melisa Waldorf
Joy Hadden
Robin Parker
Chris Olsen
I was inspired by these challenges:
AI Factory-Bring on the Bling
Digi Doodles Shops Best-Anything goes
Paper Play-Let it Snow
Stampin B’s-Snowflakes
Stamping for the Weekend-Winter
Totally Papercrafts-Snow and Snowflakes
2 Sisters-snowflakes
Craft Your Days Away-Christmas Trees
Mark’s Finest Paper-circle on card
Lexi’s Creations-Traditional Christmas Colors
Stamps R Us-Sparkles and Scallops
Thanks for stopping by,
Shelly

Bloggers Challenge-Give Thanks

  I am a little late with my challenge- had a wicked wicked headache this week and did not get alot accomplished.
   I finally got my Tom the Turkey from Dude Time Doodles put together- I had to chuckle when I saw this fun image. Aren’t you glad you can just go to the store and buy a turkey?  My husband and I are both from large families, my family has a ‘silly gene’- from Dad’s side of the family…… so I will send this to a sibling that will not attend the family gathering.
  I am working on figuring out why my (CanonSD1100) camera/computer seems to grey out all of my images- I photographed this against a black background- hmmm...any suggestions???

  The sketch is from Midnight Madness.  The DSP is from SU –the matching cardstock is Choc Chip and Barely Banana. The layer behind the image is embossed and lightly sanded and the yellow behind it is distressed. The punched border is MS. I did a border of sewing around the edge and tried my hand at doodling for the first time.  The image(s) is colored with Copics .
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I entered challenges for this card:
Bloggers Challenge-Thanks
Midnight Madness- Sketch
Dude Time Doodles-Inspiration Challenge
Pile it on-Holidays with Families and friends
Cards for Men-Masculine and animals
Crazy Challenge-Thank You/Thanksgiving
Critter Sketch-Texture
Karber weekly-Digi-for a family member
Shabby Tea Room- What are you thankful for
Creative Card Crew-Give Thanks
Sisterhood of Crafters-Thankful
Stamping Royalty-Patterned Paper
Gingersnaps-stitching
Sew Many Cards-Digi+Turkeys+Punches
Stamp Something-Thanks
Tellen’s Place-Give Thanks
Alphabet-D is for doodling
Thanks for stopping by today- have a great weekend!
Shelly

Marbled Paste- Fun with the latest Technique Junkies newsletter

I was invited to be a guest designer for the latest Technique Junkies newsletter- a huge honor for me......One of the new techniques used stencils- which I have quite a few of,  and stencil paste.  I love the look of these cards, and plan to make some for my Christmas cards.  Here is a sample that made it into the newsletter:

The beautiful red paper is  shimmery and has a corduroy appearance with a touch of gold- wish you could see it IRL.......  The stencil is from TSC designs.  That sentiment is from Firecracker Designs by Pamela.

This second attempt at the technique was done again on a black background...( the first I trimmed around the edges).  I used a Faux Metal background substituting Gold Metallic acryllic paint. There is a shimmery black (Graphite) shimmer mist sprayed on here, but it does not show up in the photo.

Challenges for the cards:

Character Cafe-embossing

2 Sisters-Christmas

Crazy 4 Challenges- Christmas

Crafty Pad- Christmas Sparkle

I Did it Creations- Traditional Christmas Colors

Lexi's Creations-Traditional Christmas Colors

Anything Goes- Emboss it

Thanks for stopping by! Shelly

OWH Blog (Hop) Candy winner

For my OWH Blog (Hop) Winner- I had 66 comments.  The winner is:

brandi said...

My daughter LOVES horses. She'd fall over if she saw these!

OK Brandi- be ready to catch your daughter- you are the winner!  (How fun to read a winning post like this- sounds like the stamps will be well appreciated!!!).

Thanks again to everyone that stopped by for the OWH Blog Hop!

Shelly

Stamps R Us-Sparkle and Scallops

OWH Blog Hop Post HERE- Blog candy to be drawn 11/15 at 6PM

My Blogging group Stamps R Us has issued a challenge: Sparkle(s) and Scallops.  The challenge is sponsored by The Stamping Boutique. We were allowed to pick any image from the store- and what better for a sparkly challenge but a Fairy image. 

Here is another view of the card:

 The image is a digi and I watercolored it with Soft Sky. I dabbed a tiny bit of R22 on the flowers to mimic the flowers in the bacground Basic Grey DSP.  I touched up the edges of the fairy with B00.  I painted over the top part of the skirt and the inside of the wings with Creative Inspirations Paint.  I also added a touch of that sparkly paint around the image. 
 I painted the flowers with Soft Sky for the larger flowers and used Copic V02 for the smaller punched flowers.  I painted over all of them with Creative Inspirations Paint. I added a Dew Drop to the center of the flower in a color that mimics the DSP. The bottom flower was embossed in the Cuttlebug. I decided to take creative liberties with the scallops and used my notch punch.
  The layer under the main image is from the Technique Junkies called 'Crystal Ice' with a touch of Soft Sky by Stampin Up.
Stamps: Digi by The Stamping Boutique, sentiment RainDropEcho.

TIP: I learned a little tip from Chris Dickenson- if you have a piece of special paper or a technique- cut out a portion from behind the image and you will have that for another project- I did that for the Crystal Ice layer.

Challenges for this card:
Stamps R Us- Sparkles and Scallops
Crazy Challenge- Things with Wings
Cute Card Thursday-Anything Goes
Fairy Fun Fridays-Make your own flowers
Fariy Tale-anything goes
Stamp Something-use a digital image
Basic Grey-Wings and Basic Grey DSP
Secret Crafter-Sparkle and Shine
I (heart)2stamp-Sketch
Paper Sundae's- Blue and punches, flowers are embossed
Sentimental Sunday-Childhood and Sentiment

Thanks for stopping by today- we'd love to have you join in the challenge at Stamps R Us- stop by and see my blogging sisters samples!
Shelly

Operation Write Home Valentines Blog Hop

Operation Write Home is a group of card makers that make cards for soldiers AND for the soldiers to send home to their families- wives, kids, parents, brothers and sisters....you get the picture. 

There are deadlines for sending cards in- as it takes some time to get the cards to the soldiers- so we are celebrating VALENTINES DAY with the  OWH crew.  The deadline to send Valentines is Jan. 7th.  Of course, you can send in Valentine cards after this date- they will be saved for next year.  (You can also always send in Thank You cards, Happy Birthday cards- you get the picture.....!).
******The deadline to send in Christmas cards has passed already- no worries- the soldiers love cards all year long!******

You more than likely came to my blog from SHARON's BLOG.  If you go from link to link, you will go around in a big circle- there are freebies and blog candy along the way.  (There is a list of blogs on the OWH Stars and Stripes Home page if you find a broken link so you can keep hopping.......).

I decided not to add a sentiment on the card front, so the soldier could choose a Howdy or a love themed sentiment.  I am hoping a female soldier will send this card home to her man!  The image is by Bonibleaux designs and it is currently available at Firecracker Designs by Pamela (until 12/15).

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Before you 'hop' off, here is a chance for some blog candy:

  This is a set of unmounted stamps (5 1/2 x's 8) from Firecracker Designs by Pamela- no longer available as Pamela is going out of business and this set is SOLD OUT.  It is perfect for any horse lover! 
  Please leave a comment along with your e-mail address.  You will have one week to come back and claim your prize- drawing will be Monday 11/15 at 7PM CST (after I get home from work) and the winner will have until 11/20 to claim the stamps. 
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 Craft for a Cause: PLEASE VOTE DAILY at Joanns - http://www.joann.com/CraftForaCause

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Now, onto the next stop on the OWH Valentines Hop- Megan.

Thanks for stopping by! Shelly

Bloggers Challenge-Sketch Challenge

This week for my Bloggers challenge we have a Sketch Challenge:

  I thought I'd make a fall card and found an image at D2D that fit the bill.  I colored the image with Copic Markers.

I chose the DSP first- it is from Joann and is by Ancestry.com  It is brighter IRL- the Bg is Mellow Moss and the yellow is Apricot Appeal. I sponged a tiny bit of Real Rust around the edges of the DSP and over the textured Cuttlebug Highlights. 

Challenges for my card:

Crafty Emma-Autumn

Stamp, Scrap and Doodle-Fall Cards

Scrappy Frogs-Give Thanks

Freshly Brewed-2 or more patterned Papers

Shirley2Girls-give Thanks/pumpkins

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you can stop by tomorrow for the Operation Write Home Valentine's Blog Hop!
Shelly