EEK!!! Monsters!

Hello Readers!

When I made this card last night my daughter took one look at it and said 'Why did you make this card so scary?'. Really? Hopefully Technique Tuesday will not take offense, but I thought they were kind cute. This card is a similar design to my last post in the fact that I am using the Simon Says Stamp cover plate with the colors orange and green.

This design is using the same die as my last post 'A Bold Hi'
but it has a completely different look.

I opted for a smaller sentiment so it wouldn't upstage
the circular design or my cute little monsters.

Okay now you are the judge. These little monsters aren't so scary, are they? Well it is Halloween time and maybe a bit of scare is good for the soul. For my daughter it will build character! 

Playing along with:

CAS-ology: Cue Word- Circles
Inkspirational: Colour Challenge- Orange and Green
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: No Designer Paper

     

Happy 10th Birthday to my nephew James

&

Happy 23rd Birthday to my ice cream niece Katie!

That is it for me right now. Keep checking back to my blog for a crafty announcement!! Take care all and feel free to leave a comment good, great, or otherwise. Thank you for stopping by and we will see you soon!

All the best,

Shawna 

Gently Falling

Greetings Everyone,

For today I am submitting this card to Addicted to CAS, Pals Paper Arts and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge. Since fall is in the air and the leaves are starting to change I thought it would be perfect time to celebrate with a CAS Autumn card.. Here you go! Enjoy!

All that white space makes the color that is present just pop! 

The Pool Party border is just enough to
frame these Autumnal leaves

Detail showing the color of the leaves

The color prompt from Pals Paper Arts was so beautiful. This stamp (SU not sure of the name) reminded me of gently falling leaves, perfect fit for Addicted to CAS challenge. As I didn't have the exact colors for the PPA challenge I tried to get close. I stamped the leaves using Tangelo Twist but it needed a bit more pink to match PPA. So I added some Dried Marigold Distress ink and blended it with an aqua pen.

Example of the added color to get close to
Tangerine Tango

I also used Pool Party to blend into the leaves. Because the Tangelo Twist is more of a dark coral the addition of the of the Dried Marigold was just the ticket to get close to the . I added the yellow using the darker Daffodil Delight alcohol marker to coordinate with Crushed Curry. 

Addicted to CAS is what prompted me to try my hand (once again) at a CAS card. All the white space I think allows the color of the leaves to really shine. The Pool Party border was done by coloring the ink from the pad to the paper, then die cut again allowing some leaves to see some blue. The twine was added for some texture.

Entering Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog: Use a stamp 

Addicted to CAS: Challenge #32- Leaves

Pals Paper Arts: PPA267- color challenge

  

That is all for me I hope this post finds you well and I want to say a big 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOM!!

Thank you so much for stopping by and feel free to leave a comment I really like a good critique good, great, or otherwise. Take care and see you soon.

All the best,
Shawna

Blood Moon

Hello All!

Well oops I missed the CAS-ology challenge for moon. But I just couldn't resist making this as soon as inspiration hit. I was watching television last night when I saw a massive moon rise over a cluster of pine trees.. That's it!!

Okay now I had the idea but lets take it a bit further and make it a blood moon! What on earth is a blood moon? Click here for a short video on what a blood moon is. I am certified space nut and I love it!! The mysteries of the Universe never ever bore me! I could watch space shows for eternity.. (get it! okay bad joke).

Now that I am back down to earth here is my card for tonight.

Card is 5.5" x 4"
I wanted it to look like a panorama picture

Gigantic blood moon for Halloween!

Detail showing the understated sentiment.

I thought this card would be great for the Halloween season.. It was actually very simple to make. First I die cut a circle and masked of the moon and the ground line and sponged the sky. Using the negative space of the circle die cut I started to sponge the moon. Took the mask off the ground line and stamped the tree line and sponged the rest black. Finally stamped the sentiment. Easy to make but WOW how effective and bold!! And well..... spooky.

I would like to submit this card to the following blogs:
Addicted to Stamps: Challenge #161- Anything Goes
Sweet Stampin' Challenge Blog: Make a Scene
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge Blog: Use a Stamp
TIME OUT Challenge Blog: Challenge #39- Make Your Mark

          

Well that is all for me tonight I hope you have a great day and I want to thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to be with me. I really do appreciate it!! If you want to leave a comment that would be great as well. Take care all and see you soon!

All the Best,
Shawna

Circle Card

Hello Again,

I should do more morning posts, I feel so accomplished.. Well I am still in my jams so maybe not so accomplished.

We are hanging on to the last strings of summer here in Michigan USA and I wanted to make a 'relax' card for Jo's Scrap Shack and Bunny Zoe's Crafts to commemorate these last days before school starts.

So for today I have created a circle card. I have never made a card that was not either a rectangle or square so I thought I would try my hand at making a circle card. Here it is.. Gulp! I hope you like it...

Relaxing scene using Distress Markers and Aqua Pen.

Cut a portion out of the back so it would stand.

Image was colored using Distress Markers and an aqua pen.

White sentiment was chosen not to distract from the focal image.
However, it does provide balance from the stamped image on top of the card.

Entering Challenges:

Jo's Scrap Shack: FFC #102- 'Lazy Days of Summer' 

Bunny Zoe's Crafts: Shape Card

SSS Wednesday Blog: Anything Goes

     

I tried to color this image three different ways, Alcohol markers-too bold. PrismaColor pencils- too sketchy, Distress Markers with Aqua Pen- well that was just right. The scene is serene and full of watery color that adds to the calm.

How to:

1. Stamped image in heavyweight watercolor paper.
2. Colored image using Distress Markers and then blending them out with an aqua pen.
3. Die cut image using a stitched circle die
4. Die cut a larger circle for the card base.
5. Die cut a second circle leaving some of the circle flat so it could stand. Then scored a line so the card would open from the back.
6. Adhered the two larger circles together above the scored line to create my card.
7. Stamped the top of a tree in light gray dye ink on the card base.
8. Adhered the image to the card using dimensional adhesive.
9. Die cut the sentiment and added it to the card.

There it is, my first shaped card.. Not bad for a first timer.. Well I have to start my day and get the kiddos going.. Don't forget to leave a comment good, great, or otherwise. Thank you so much for stopping by spending time with me. Have a great day and we will see you soon! 

All the best,

Shawna 

Color Tree

Good Morning All!

I usually write my posts ridiculously late at night. So I thought I would try to post in the morning with wide eyes (well wide'ish) and a cup of tea.  

For today I have a card that was inspired by DRS Designs color challenge and Just Us Girls photo challenge. The other day I saw a Christmas countdown ticker and it showed something like 123 days til December 25.  There is still plenty of time and good times to be had but I know it will go by in a blink of an eye. Well here is my take on the challenges.

The circles from the correspond with the patterned paper
in the background.

Very pretty color combination.

Detail showing the watercolor detail of the tree.

This tree is directed more towards Christmas but it can be used for any season. Color the berries green for spring buds, use fall colors for the circles. I think you will see this tree again in this spring or maybe earlier. 

Entering the following Challenges:

DRS Designs- #188 Inspired by Color Challenge

Just Us Girls- #307 Photo Week

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Anything Goes

       

How to:

1. Stamped tree image on heavyweight watercolor paper,
2. Colored image using Distress Markers to match both challenge themes.
3. Trimmed image and rounded corners. 
4. Lightly distressed the edges. Set aside.
5. Cut and scored vanilla CS to an A2 size card.
6. Stamped sentiment on watercolor paper the same size as the card base then added it to the card base and lightly distressed the edges.
7. Adhered SU PP to the base then added another strip of SU PP. 
8. Added tree image to the base.

That is all for me! Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing part of your day with me.. I look forward to your comments good, great or otherwise.. Take care all and have a great day. 

All the best,

Shawna 

School Days

Hello Friends,

School is back!! Looking forward to another academic year, new friends, new teachers, expanded knowledge and silence (Did I just say that? Why yes I did!!). Don't get me wrong I love my children to pieces but we are all getting under each others skin.. We have done all the day camps, outings, camping, and family visits that one Mom can handle.. You can hang me out to dry because by this time in the Summer I am fresh out of ideas..

So many blogs are having school themed challenges and I am SO jumping on that band wagon!! I am packing a one, two, three punch with this card.. I am sending it to (PIN)spirational, CAS Colours and Sketches, Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Blog and Addicted to CAS! Here it is I hope you like it..

Plays along with the CAS sketch. (PIN)spirational inspired
the chalkboard background with the black backdrop from the photo.

Very graphic and simple to replicate.

'teacher' is die cut 3x and sandwiched together for
just a bit of dimension.

The 'chalkboard' look follows the school theme. Embossed
black cardstock and rubbed with a white crayon.
Couldn't be simpler.

Entering these challenges:
CAS Colours & Sketches: Challenge #137- Sketch
Addicted to CAS: Challenge #70- Code Word: School
(PIN)spirational: Challenge #147- Photo
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog- Back to School

         

How to:

1. Cut and scored white CS to size A2 card. Set aside.
2. Cut black CS the same size as the card base (A2)
3. Dry Embossed the black cardstock then rubbed a white crayon over the image and applied it to the card.
4. Die cut a star shape out of PP.
5. Die cut 'teacher' 3x and sandwiched them together.
6. Cut out bingo card from more PP.
7. Arranged the elements on the black 'chalkboard.

That was it!! So easy and simple to do.. Well it is 1:30 A.M. and I should turn in for the night. Thank you so much for checking in and seeing what I have been up to.. Any comments good, great, or otherwise are always welcomed.  It really means a lot to know that you are there and listening.. Take care and until next time.

All the Best,

Shawna 

Bokeh Universe

Hello Y'all!

My sister-in-law, who is from South Carolina, just left today after a week's visit. What a great time for reuniting with family it is always such a joy.. With that said, I was neglecting my craft 'table'... It needed to be cleaned and used again.

So off I went to clean and create and this is what I came up with for CAS(E) this sketch and colors inspired by ColourQ. As some of you might know I am a space geek. While crafting for another challenge I was listening to a space program when I looked up I saw the image of the sun and some bokeh diffused around the star.. Well that was all the inspiration I needed to come up this card.

Bokeh space image using chalk ink and stencil.
The sentiment seems to correspond nicely with the bokeh.

The ColourQ colors are very
muted and subtle against the dark background that 
showcases the sentiment. 

Challenge entered:

CAS(E) this Sketch #133

Colour Q: cQc #301

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog- ATG

   

I think this is the fastest card I have ever done.. It came together so quickly and easily and I couldn't believe my eyes on how well it turned out!

How to:

1. Cut and scored my white CS to an A2 card size. Set aside.
2. Cut black CS to 4" x 5.25" 
3. Stenciled circle images by sponging chalk inks and frosted white directly to the black CS.
4. Stamped sentiment using VersaMark Ink then heat set in white.
5. Mounted the black CS panel to card base.

That was it... In total I think it took twenty-thirty minutes from start to finish. I have been realizing that if I have a plan before working on a design it will go a lot faster then if I didn't. 

Well my eyes are getting heavy and they want to go to bed.. Thank you so much for stopping by I really do appreciate it. Also, if you feel so inclined to leave a comment that would be great too. Take care all and see you next time on TheGrandStampede!

All the best,

Shawna

Bubble Solution, Ink, and Paper

Hello Everyone,

For today I am seeing lots and lots of dot challenges.. Who? Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, CAS(E) this Sketch, and the Cards and More Challenge blog. So why not.. I thought I would experiment.  Another blog (please let me know if you know it) showcased this fab technique by blowing bubbles with ink! Genius!! And the result was FANTASTIC! Perfect for the CAS(E) challenge. So lets try...

Well it didn't go as planned so I got annoyed and started dribbling the solution on the paper.. I cannot believe how wonderful the color was!! True and they really didn't bleed into each other as much as I thought it would.. I turned out beautifully.. And here it is the bubble solution and ink dribbled on CS!

The circles were place how they were cut. It is hard to see
but the result is supposed to be seamless.

The addition of the white outline of circles leads your
eye down to the sentiment.

Who would have thought bubble solution and ink would
have this result.. Amazing!! I guess it pays sometimes to experiment.

I am sending this card to the following challenges:
CAS(E) this Sketch #129
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: We're Going Dotty
Cards and More Challenge: #135- Dots/points

     

This card was very unexpected.. One thing that surprised me was the 'embossing' effect it had on the paper after it dried. Try it! I promise it will not disappoint!!

The card size is standard A2 white cardstock with a top fold. Then die cut with this die in white and I die cut the colored bubble paper using only the circles not the outline. Spray mounted the white outline die-cut and placed it on the card base. Then filled some of the circles with the bubble solution paper. Added sentiment (retired SU: Word Play) on soft gray CS and heat embossed white..

Okay it is late and I must go to bed for tomorrow is another busy day.. Take care all and thank you so much for stopping by!! And please leave a comment if you'd like. I would enjoy hearing from you.. Take care and have a great night.

All the best,
Shawna

Down by the Sea

Hello All!

Today's card is all about the beach! To me the beach means relaxing and colorful Adirondack chairs and, being from Michigan, lighthouses.  According to Pure Michigan's website (the official travel site for our state) has more lighthouses then in any other state. Each one is unique and grand in its own way! If you ever head out to this part of the country you should take a lighthouse tour. You will not be disappointed.. 

So that leads me into today's challenges.. Here is my card for today! I hope today's card will provoke some relaxation.. So sit back, sigh, and relax and I please enjoy.

Colors, colors, colors is the hallmark of Summer!

Adirondack chairs are so appropriate for the beach!
And if you visit the state of Michigan you will have many lighthouses to visit.

Summer is all about fun and relaxing.. And that is what Make My Monday Challenge and Brown Sugar Challenge Blog is all about, Summer and the beach. And lets not forget Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where anything goes!

Also, At Make My Monday there is a design team call. I would like to be a part of this diverse and talented team and I feel I could be a good fit.  I enjoy your challenges and are very inspired by them! I hope you would consider my application for this position.

The challenges I am entering:

Make My Monday: The Beach and DT call

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes

Brown Sugar Challenge#152: Summer Fun (BSBC152)

How to:

1. Printed Adirondack images then colored with approperate Summer colors.
2. Masked off the chairs and sponged the water, sand, and sky.
3. Highlighted the water using a white gel pen.
4. Stamped the lighthouse and colored with mask still in place.
5. Stamped boat image first on paper then on CS to create a more distant image.
6. Added stippling to sand to create shadow and texture.
7. Stamped sentiment.
8. Matted image with black border.
9. Cut and scored my CS to 4 1/2" x 4" and mounted the matted image to the base.

For my friends on the Northern Hemisphere have warm Summer days filled with relaxation and fun! Thank you for stopping by and please don't forget to leave a comment good, great, or otherwise! Take care.

All the best,

Shawna