Owl Birthday

Hello,

For today I am playing along with CAS-ology and Colour Q Challenge Blogs.
These two challenges seemed to go nicely together. So off I went to my craft table. Here is my card. Enjoy!

All the colors go nicely with the Color Q Challenge
and who doesn't love an owl.

This is a one layer card colored with PrismaColor pencils on kraft paper.
The image is heat embossed using white ink and powder. 

Colored the eyes using an aqua pen and white ink then
 colored them yellow with a little orange mixed in.

This is one of these stamps that you see hanging in the store and say 'I am going to use this ALL THE TIME'. Well after owning it for the better part of a year this is the first time I got a chance. This little guy is so cute and I think would be perfect for a little boy or even an adult who is a kid at heart. Whooooo knows?

Playing along with:
CAS-ology:  Week #174- Owl
Colour Q: cQc #318

   

Thank you so much for joining me today (again). I do hope you enjoyed your stay and look forward to seeing soon!

All the best,
Shawna

Another One Layer Card

Hello Again,

I am once again playing along with One Layer Christmas Card Challenge, AAA Cards, and House of Cards. Here is my card for these challenges.

Such pretty colors adorn this festive card. The pops of pink and silver banding seems so
fitting for our ornament.

Showing the window to the ornament on the inside.

The pearlescent blue is so pretty with the
blue/green holly and pink berries.

Okay, okay OLCCC DT's let me explain before you throw me out of the challenge for not submitting a one layer card. I argue that in fact it is a one layer card.....with a hole in it.. :)  Showing through the hole is an ornament that is heat embossed with pearlescent blue. I also colored some of the details pink to match the holly berries.  I do hope you will agree that this card is actually one layer with a twist.

Entering Challenges:
House of Cards: Stamped and Cut Window
One Layer Christmas Card Challenge: #22 ATG- Silhouette option
AAA Cards: Game #53

    

That should do it for me... I want to thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed your visit. Take care all and we will see you soon.

All the best,
Shawna

One Layer Card

Hello Everyone,

For today I am playing along with Freshly Made Sketches, Christmas Card Challenge and One Layer Christmas Card Challenge. Once again FMS has inspired the layout while trying to keep it to one layer per OLCCC. Here is my card for today. Enjoy.

I tried to achieve the silohette and shadow technique with the wreath
but it just turned out gray. I think I may have needed a bolder stamp for this to really work.
Nevertheless, it turned out great. 

I like the limited color palette. It shows off the sparkle and the
bold festive sentiment.

Trying to capture the sparkle of the red Stickles.
In this picture you can see my attempt to shadow the stamp.
I needed darker colored paper.

This card is so teeny-tiny measuring in at 3"x 4". I think this would be great card to attach to a bottle of wine. In fact, I think that is exactly what I am going to do. I like the offset focal image, it gives it a bit of interest plus the sentiment fits very nicely offset as well.

Entering Challenges:
Freshly Made Sketches: FM214
One Layer Christmas Card Challenge: #22 ATG- Silhouette option
Christmas Card Challenge: SCCC #52- ATG

    

I am going to keep this short and sweet as I have a boatload of work to do today. Thank you so much for stopping by and do hope to see you soon! Take care!

All the best,
Shawna

Windy Flurries

Good Evening Everyone,

For today I am playing along with Freshly Made Sketches, House of Cards and City Crafter Challenge Blog. All are fantastic challenges that inspired me to create this card. Enjoy.

Double stamping the 'wind' creates a very pretty effect. I used different shades of blues and grays that were found on the patterned paper beyond the snowflake window.

The monochromatic color scheme creates an elegant look with a bit of fun. 

The outer layer of the card is popped up using dimensional
adhesive for a bit more depth. 

Linking up with the following challenges:

Freshly Made Sketches: FMS214

House of Cards: Stamped and Cut Window

City Crafter Challenge Blog: Week 289- The Snow Queen

   

The snowflake window was an interesting experiment. I die cut the smaller snowflake then die cut the bigger snowflake on top of the smaller one using Festive Flurries Die Cut set by Stampin' Up! (retired). I ended up with these fragments of snowflake. At first I was disappointed then inspiration hit to use them on the base of the card around the smaller flake. It adds a bit more color and definition to the design.

The layout was totally inspired by all these blog. The most influential of these layouts was Freshly Made Sketches. I loved this sketch the minute I saw it and had to link up! As usual, I have waited to the last minute to submit my card. One of these days I will be proactive and do these in advance. LOL who am I kidding?

I am going to bother you with one more post tonight and do hope you can join me there too. Until then take care and thank you for stopping by!

All the best,
Shawna 

No Stamp Allowed

Hello Everyone,

For today I am writing on behalf of Make My Monday challenge blog. We have quite a wonderful challenge this week: Stamp with anything BUT a stamp. Here is my card for tonight. Enjoy!

Black makes these colors pop! Just a bit of acrylic paint and then
stamping the paint with the bottom of the bottle to create the circles.

This weeks challenge: Stamp with anything BUT a stamp

The white 'friend' sentiment also pops
 off the black sentiment.

Tons of visual and actual texture. Overheating the acrylic paint till
it bubbled created fantastic dimension however
 did not make for a great smell throughout
the house.

So this is how my card rolled out... ugh... Several months ago I went to a spare parts consignment shop and found this amazing chevron cylinder, which I thought would make a great stamp.. Just simply roll it in ink/paint add to paper and there is my perfect pattern. Well in reality all I got were lines.. Still cool, but not what I was after. I finally smooched all the paint I had left on this black paper and  (more out of frustration then creativity) stamped a circle using the paint bottle I had on hand. And there we are; not too bad I think. 

I do hope you can join us at Make My Monday this week.. Who knows an object in your house could become your favorite stamp! Look around and see what you can find and then stamp!

Take care all and thank you so much for stopping by.. 

All the best,
Shawna 

Harlequin Birthday

Hello All,

If you are in the United States, I am sure by now you are all stuffed silly with turkey, green bean casserole, and pie; just to name a few..  Here is a quick word of assurance; holiday calories don't count (I just have to tell my scale this little clause). So, go ahead! and have that 'larger then life' leftover plate with an extra helping of pie!!

I have found a few moments between plates to let you know that Brown Sugar is having a new challenge! For this week our theme is: Pearls. Here is my card! Enjoy!!

This digi stamp is called 'The Mad Hatter'.
I thought the diamond designer paper would be a good match for this design.

Our theme for this week:

Pearls

Our sponsor is Sassy Studio Designs.

Store - http://buysassystudiodesigns.blogspot.co.uk/

Blog - http://www.sassystudiodesigns.blogspot.co.uk/

Prize - 4 Digi images of winners choice

I used the pearls to frame the corners of our 'Mad Hatter'
For a bit of dimension, I also used the pearls for the top of her dress.

The dark CS had to be layered with a more friendly writing color, white.
I used the left over designer paper on the inside to give it a bit more interest.

The spotlighting technique seemed appropriate for this
funky stamp. The use of a diamond shape only adds
to its uniqueness and theme. 

I do hope you will join us at Brown Sugar this week.. I am looking forward to see what you create with pearls! Thank you so much for stopping by and we will see you soon..

All the best,
Shawna

Peace to Arthur

Hello Everyone,

For today I am playing along with a fantastic color challenge from IN(K)SPIRE_me. This challenge immediately caught my eye! These soft elegant colors are so nicely suited for a flower card. Here is my design for tonight; enjoy!

I see this card not a sympathy card but as a celebration of life.
The soft and elegant colors are reflecting a life well lived.
Cheery, inviting, and happy is what our little Arthur was to us.

The flowers were colored using a combination of
Stampin' Up! and Mexpy alcohol markers.

The sentiment shown through the window. Peace for my aunt who has just lost her dog, Arthur.
I covered the card with my hand to create a shadow on the front allowing the light to glow through the back.

The blender marker really came in handy to fade out the sky.
Also used a combination of stamp sets from Stampin' Up!

I would also like to join House of Cards for their window card challenge. It was their challenge that inspired me to create this window.

Entering Challenges:
IN(K)SPIRE_me: Challenge #225
House of Cards: Stamp/Punch Label Technique

    


This is a not so much a sympathy card as a 'celebration of a life well lived' card. See, today my aunt's dog, Arthur, had to be put to sleep. My aunt and I are very close, so upon hearing this news I ached for her as well as her beloved dog. He was a miniature dachshund, who lived to the ripe old age of 14!! He is loved and is now at peace; and for that I am thankful.

For those of us who reside in the United States, I would like to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving. May your turkey be tasty and your cranberry be tart! Take care all and thanks again for stopping by and hope to see you soon!!

All the best,
Shawna

Remembrance by the Sea

Hello Everyone,

For today I am playing along with The Male Room. Their theme is one where I have the most challenge: 'Remembrance/Sympathy'. I don't seem to make enough of these cards. So, whenever I need a sympathy card it seems that I don't have any around. TMR has served an important service to me to restock my supply. Here is my card for today. Enjoy!

I can see how the sea is so fitting for  remembrance/sympathy card. The soft sounds
and beautiful scenery invoke relaxation and peace.
This is just the feeling you want to convey when sending such a card. 

A bit of sponging and a bit of stamping creates this
card of remembrance/sympathy.
Sentiment:
'Recall it as often as you wish, a happy memory never wears out'Embossed 'stars' seem fitting for the sentiment.

Entering Challenge:

The Male Room: TMR#23-15 Remembrance/Sympathy

Sunsets are probably the most beautiful part nature; match that up with the beach and you are in paradise. My time at the beach is filled with relaxing memories; especially the sunsets! Others from all around the surrounding area commune on the beach to see the 'show' (sunsets) then afterward applaud to mark their awe at nature.. I have seen it all around this country and I love the feeling of community.

This sunset was inspired by many I have seen at the shore. What amazes me most is the sun horizon is dark but the water is still so crystal blue and so very different from the sky. I find these sunsets to be the most miraclous. The contrast in color is a feast for the eyes! All I have to say when I see one of these miracles is 'Wow!'.

Well that should do it for me! I want to thank you so much for spending a little part of your day with me. If you are so inclined to comment on what you think that would be great! Take care all and we will see you soon!

All the best,

Shawna

Oh! Christmas Tree

Hello Readers!!

For today I am writing on behalf Make My Monday Challenge Blog. Our challenge this week is 'Oh! Christmas Tree'. You can interpret the theme however you'd like. Here is my take on the theme. Enjoy!

Double embossing technique creates a very nice background. The snowflakes were die-cut out of soda cans! The largest snowflake is a Coke can inside out while the
red snowflakes are from the same can just right side out. 

Our theme for this week:

Oh! Christmas Tree

at:

Detail showing displaying the large snowflake popping off the card.
This type of card will be given in a box because the tin snowflakes are so fragile.

Here in the U.S.A. we are all gearing up for Thanksgiving.. A day to give thanks for all our blessings and stuff ourselves silly (at least I do).. Eight years ago we took our newborn son, David, home on Thanksgiving. Having made no food our neighbors made Thanksgiving dinner for us. I will never forget that moment and for that I am thankful.

Thank you so much for stopping by today. And do hope you can hop on over to Make My Monday and play along. If you'd like to leave a comment that would be great. I do enjoy reading what you have to say. Until then, see you at Make My Monday!! Take care!

All the best,

Shawna 

Joy to the World

Hello Everyone,

For today I am writing on behalf of the House of Cards challenge blog. As some of you may know our challenge this month is 'stamped and cut window'. I am fairly new at stamping but from what I have seen this is a tried and true method for one fantastic card.. So tonight I am going to show you this technique but with a spin. Here is my card and tutorial.. Enjoy!!

Joy to the World!

This months challenge:
Stamped and Cut Window

Vintage Bigz die cut of a globe.
All I did was snip the globe holder when die cut
the foam and card stock.

Cut craft foam the same size as the cut circle window panel.
The larger panel will be used for the ocean.

Lay the circle die on top of the cut panel.
Make sure you align the die, foam, and paper as they will be on the card.

Take the die off and then draw the circle on the craft foam.
Align die with the tracing and cut. You may have to 'rip' out the circle from the
foam; it is already scored so you don't have to worry about rough edges.

Set everything aside except for the base of the card.
Now for the fun part!! Pick out your colors and start
painting our ocean.

I have found after I heat dried the panel it was badly warped.
So I plugged in my iron and got a heavy dictionary and some scrap pieces of paper.
My 'sandwich' was book, card base, scrap paper and then iron.
It worked! Base was as straight as an arrow. 

Got to work on my continents. The brown craft foam represents the ground underneath
and the green CS land we occupy. Used some glue and sandwiched the two land masses together.

After your base is dry, set the window panel with the craft foam
on top of the watercolored base. Then set the land masses in your window.

Here is the earth using the window technique.

You can see the earth below and the livable land above.
The depth of the livable land is flush with the card

If you, like me, are using a panel to adhere to your card.
Make sure to put  lots and lots of adhesive on the back
then attach it to the card.

The 'Joy' die cut seemed very fitting for the theme.
This very affordable die is from PaperTrey Ink.

Added another 'joy' in black and placed it
underneath to visually pop off the white.

You can see the shadow cast from the land masses through the window to
the ocean. Added just a bit of sparkle to suggest the earth in space.

Well that should do it for me.. I do hope you can join us at House of Cards. So hop on over and see what the other talented design team created and hopefully that will entice you to play along.. This is such a fun technique with so many possibilities. I am looking forward to see what the possibilities are through your designs.  See you there!!

Thank you for stopping by and if you feel so moved as to leave me a comment that would be great.. Take care all and we will see you soon.

All the best,
Shawna