Merry Snowflakes

Hello Friends,

Wow, that was a close one... I almost didn't make the deadline for some challenges. Today I am playing with Hand Stamped Sentiments and Stampin' Royalty.

This snowflake set from Stampin' Up' is one of my favorites.
I enjoy its intricate detail and variety of design.

The light gray border suits the color palette from
Stampin' Royalty so nicely. Plus, you will see in the following photos
a silver sheen is also used for a border.

Below/Left: You can see the silver sheen border with a snowflake to match. The silver is the perfect touch. Bottom/Right: A detail of the banner and snowflake. I tried to keep the same colors that were found in the background. 

Hand Stamped Sentiments: Challenge #259
Stampin' Royalty: #SR360

I really like the all-over-stamping technique. It provides a randomness and it is just down right fun. However, I do have a method to my madness. When I do this technique, I like to stamp a much bigger section of the paper and then crop the area that I like best. It seems to work well for me and maybe it will for you too.

So once again thank you for stopping by my corner of the internet. We will see you soon. Until then, take care and happy stamping.

All the best,
Shawna 

Ombre Flakes

Hello Friends,

Wow, that was a close one... I almost didn't make the deadline for some challenges. Today I am playing with Less is More, Freshly Made Sketches and CASology. Here is my card for today, enjoy!

Challenges Entered:
Freshly Made Sketches: FMS269
CASology: Week 30- Cold
Less is More: #310- Colour

Who on this green earth is going to get this card? Well, I will tell you... It is going to place where it is always a million degrees. No, I am not talking about the Sun; however is about that hot in this place. I am giving to a person I know in Flordia and I'm going to write that I wish you were here... I think the recipient will notice the humour... HA!

I know we all have hectic lives, so I would like to thank you so much for stopping by my little corner of the internet. We will see you soon! Until then, take care and happy stamping!!

All the best,
Shawna

New Shoes

Hello Friends,

Well, more awesome news at TheGrandStampede. I have been asked by the talented gals at Just Us Girls to be their guest designer for the month of January!! What fun and am so excited to work with this seriously talented group of cardmakers. So without further ado, here is my card for today, enjoy...

There is nothing like a new pair of comfortable shoes to make a girl happy.
For you, it might be a cozy pair of slippers or a stylish pair of heels.
For me, it would be a great pair of everyday slip-on shoes with a pair of brand new socks.

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Just Us Girls

with Ina 

Challenge #375

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I wish I could say the blue ombre was done with my hand and skill.
But, I cannot tell a lie, it was done using photo-editing software.
Very easy to do and has a fantastic effect. 

I really enjoy the fonts in this sentiment. The words that needed emphasis
are a beautiful script. The more blocky font seems to be a
perfect compliment to its script partner.

While getting my weekly dose of card tutorials on YouTube I came across a rather interesting video. It was discussion regarding Polychromos versus wax-based pencils.  The artist taking the video gave all her wax-based pencils away and swore to never go back when she discovered polychromo pencils. Apparently, they blend better and are a better quality pencil then its wax based counterpart. I was intrigued and decided to see for myself, so I ordered a set of my own. And this card is my first attempt with polychromos. 

So what did I think? I agree they are much smoother and they don't leave a residue like wax based pencils. They do blend beautifully and seem to need a less effort to do so. But the saturation of color seems to be its main difference. Wax based pencils seem to give its true color much sooner than polychromos. So my consensus, I like them both for different reasons. Each type of pencil is unique and wonderful in its own way. Kind of like my kids- which by the way out of the blue my son asks me: 'Mom, seriously tell me the truth, Who do you like better me or my sister?'.  I answered with pure laughter and a responded 'I love you both for different and unique reasons.' and that was that!

So which pencil do you prefer, and why? I would really enjoy your thoughts on this topic. If you are a beginner or a pro I would really like to hear what you have to say...

Well, that should do it for me. If you are visiting from Just Us Girls thank you for popping in and seeing some of my work. All the other followers and visitors thank you too. I do appreciate every visit. We will see you next week with another challenge from Just Us Girls. Until then, take care and happy crafting.

All the best,

Shawna 

Birds by the Water

Hello Friends,
I have some great and happy news!! I have been asked to guest design at CAS(E) this Sketch this week!! So excited, happy, and humbled. Thank you for letting me guest design alongside such a fantastically talented design team. So, here is my card for today, enjoy!!

These compimentary colors look so amazing against the white backdrop.
Supplies Used: PTI die, PTI stamp set, SU stamp set, ZIG brush markers

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CAS(E) this sketch

 with Michele Ferguson

CTS#203

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For Christmas, my aunt gifted me with a set of ZIG markers!
I had to go down to my craft area and play. This card was the perfect project
to test them out and see what they can do.

All the white space around the scene creates a
blank canvas for your mind's eye to fill in its own scenic backdrop.

All those luscious blues in the water are just so pretty.
The waves were colored using ZIG markers and an aqua brush.
I think it created a fantastic effect.

The birds were actually stamped twice. Once on the card's base and once with a MISTI. I positioned the sun exactly where the birds needed to go.
This way I didn't get a white line between the sun and sky.

Okay so remember my pity party from my last post. Well, I received a call at 5 pm with my x-ray results and, guess what, pneumonia was not found in my lungs! I will try to be succinct here. I got x-rays because I refused to go on a medication that makes me turn into a person I don't want to be.  So, the Dr. and I compromised; she will take x-rays to see how bad it really was and if she saw that it was too bad then I would have to go on steroids. Well, the films came back clean! No steroid medication needed AND more importantly no pneumonia. Still on antibiotics for my sinus infection but that is all!! So happy for so many reasons and with that I will leave you with this... Be your own advocate. Speak up and talk about your concerns... I am proof that it works!

Well, that wasn't too succinct but had to try. 

Anyhow, I want to once again thank the team at CAS(E) this sketch for having me over this week. What a joy and honor to be here with all of  you. And thank you so much for joining me here at TheGrandStampede. Until next time take care and happy crafting!! See you soon!
All the best,
Shawna

New Year, New Home

Hello Friends,

Well, I am going to keep this short as I am very sick... I'll do my pity party later, but right now I would like to let you know have a new challenge at The Male Room! Here is my card for today...

No not a home for me but a new home for my daughter's teacher. 

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TMR#51
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Well as I mentioned above, I am very sick. I have had some sort of cold since late November (Thanksgiving). And with any cold, it was hard to breathe and tissues were my best friend.  Coughing then ensued but I was still functioning. Well, yesterday it felt like a truck hit my face. My sinuses hurt so badly my teeth hurt and my eye felt swollen. It was so painful that I started crying (which is not the best thing when you already have a cold.). Pain led me to the doctor and today she told me I have double pneumonia and a sinus infection. Okay, the sinus infection was no surprise but the pneumonia was a shocker. Not to worry she gave me horse pills called antibiotics. I am hoping this pain goes away soon. Thank you in advance Sir Alexander Fleming... 

Thanks for stopping by my blog. You might want to disinfect your screen after reading this!! Take care all and looking forward to seeing you at The Male Room!!

All the best,

Shawna

New Look... New Challenge at...

MHKDesigns!!

Happy New Year Friends,

We are starting the new year at MHKDesigns with a new look!! Both the blog and Esty store are fashioned with a new logo! 

And more good news, a challenge for the New Year! But before we get to that, I would like to share my card with you. enjoy!

I am not usually a super feminine card maker, but for this challenge I thought it would approperiate The rose, heart, and colors seemed to have a romantic tone.

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MHKDesigns Etsy Store

And now for our challenge!

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The soft colors are so pretty but wanted to make sure to leave some white space too.
White space gives a sense of well... space!
No distressed edges, no embossing, just bright white space to enhance the card's images.

I do enjoy the addition of the bird cage to the card.
I think it compliments the roses nicely.
Plus, the vellum separating the sentiment from its busy backdrop seemed to be a nice divider and adds to its soft feminine feel.

 Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope to see you at MHKDesigns blog and join us for our monthly challenge. No worries if you don't have any MHKDesign product yet, you can still play along. We will see you this month and be looking forward to seeing what you create. Until then, take care.

All the best,

Supplies Used:

Perfect Poppies Digital Stamp Set

Realistic Roses Digital Stamp Set

House in the Woods

Hello Friends!

Happy New Year to y'all! With a new month comes a new challenge at House of Cards. Before I get to the challenge here is my card for this New Year's Eve, enjoy! 

The inspiration photo seemed very quiet and serene.
This is what I tried to convey with my card design.
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House of Cards January Challenge

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The card's scene is part of a larger stamp from Stampendous.
All I did was crop what I needed.
Another way to get more out of your stamps.

The silver banner provides a bit of shimmer
to the subtle scenery card.

The snowy scene is done with a stencil and white acrylic paint.
This created big white fluffy flakes.
Love those two words together- fluffy flakes

Challenges Entered:
Creative with Stamps: #10- Winter Wonderland
Repeat Impressions Inspiration Palette Challenge: J1817




As I write this we are waiting for the ball to drop by watching a Mythbusters marathon with my 9 and 11-year-old. My son's ears are bright red which a sure sign he is tired. My daughter is just fine as she is a night owl like myself. I would have never thought in my 20's I would be hanging out with my kids waiting for the new year. In my 20's, I wanted to go to Times Square and celebrate with the masses. Wow! Do times change because I wouldn't want to be anywhere in the world but here. 

That should do it for me!! So come on over and join our challenge this month at House of Cards. I would like to thank you so much for dropping by TheGrandStampede and do hope you will return soon. Until then, have a great day and a very wonderful New Years Day. Take care and happy crafting...

All the best,
Shawna