Another Color Dare!

 Hello!

Been a few days since I have felt well enough to get into my craft room and create something, but today I decided to tackle another card challenge. This card is my entry into the Color My Heart Color Dare # 452. 

My craft room is large and very stocked, and yet I discovered that finding any light yellow (lemonade) or light blue/teal (glacier) is very difficult! I use a lot of neutral and grungey colors, and not many "pretty" or pastel colors, but I did the best I could!

Hope you will play along, or at least get crafty this week. Show us what you are working on in the comments!

Until Next Time

~Shari

One More Challenge Mod Squad! (MSC)

 One last challenge card today, and it is for the vellum flowers theme at Mod Squad. I have only used vellum a handful of times and never as flowers honestly. On top of using them a new way as die cut flowers, I also colored them with my new Copic markers. I think they turned out okay, but as well, I am my own biggest critic!

Simple birthday card design lets the vellum flowers be the focal point, like the challenge suggested.

Happy Birthday watercolor look vellum flowers

How do you use vellum?

Until Next Time

~Shari

Dual Challenges

 I am someone who loves to check things off my to-do list, and sometimes I don't get into my craft room because my list is so long. Recently, I discovered that joining in some challenges, and adding them to my list with the deadline, makes me create more, which IMHO is a good thing!

Here is a card I made today for a baby shower next weekend. I used the colors from two different challenges. One is the MFT Color Challenge #169 where I saw that their 4 colors went well with the other challenge "Crazy 8" option in the Color My Heart Color Dare # 451. So I went with the closest colors I had to play along, and hope you will join us too!

Congratulations Baby Girl Card

Let's see what you are working on this week! I have some more challenges on my to-do list, so keep an eye out for more cards on the way!

Until Next Time

~Shari

Hello Dryer Sheet and Leather Card

Hello!  

I needed a little inspiration to get my creativity flowing today, so I was browsing my favorite craft blogs. I decided to participate in the the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge this week with a "Anything Goes' card.

Since anything goes, I dug out a few old supplies make a vintage looking card. I grabbed a used dryer sheet that was tea stained, as well as some paper that I stained the same way. Scrap of fabric leftover from sewing masks last year, and a piece of leather that I used my new wood-burning tool on, some thread and a button, and I was ready to get started. (Leather left over from my last project)

Supplies: Tim Holtz cardstock, tea-stained dryer sheet and paper, thread, fabric and adhesive.

I got everything cut and then distressed the edges of the cardstock, as well as the dryer sheet and fabric. I add some extra thread after sewing on this cute red button, and used glue to adhere all the layers.

Close-up on the leather flower, fabric, dryer sheet, thread and button.

I stamped a simple "hello" on the tea-stained paper, crumbled it up more, distressed the edges and then added a little extra brown ink to the edges too.

I love making upcycled cards, although I have a TON of new craft supplies to use, I tend to always go back to my box of found and scavenged items. (I may have a problem! haha)

Simple design that looks a little more vintage and distressed just by adding a few extra layers. Easy peasy!

What are you making this holiday weekend?

Until Next Time

~Shari

Instagram Reel Attempt

You may have seen my first ever (awkward and embarrassing) Instagram reel. Well, you should definitely go check out one of my favorite crafters, Sandy Allnock, and see her challenge that started this all!

Okay, so now that you saw the reel, where I blind-picked 3 random colors, you will also see that I made some gelli prints. The colors were a deep pink, bright orange, and very dark brown. I added titanium white with a fluid matte medium to the Gelli plate before adding the 3 chosen colors. Here is a close up of some of the texture I got from my first print. 

I also grabbed a few more colors while I was playing and tried a different batch of prints. After drying, I was ready to make some cards.

I usually struggle to design masculine cards, but something about these colors made me think I could use some of my Tim Holtz stash and make a birthday card. I also thought that lovely texture would be good leaves or animal fur. Since it isn't summer, but I have these dies I have never used, I decided on a bear and trees.

The final products are two masculine cards that will both be used for birthday.

Consider trying the challenge, and let us see what you are inspired to create!

Until Next Time

~Shari

Masculine Birthday Cards

Sometimes I find making cards for adult men to be a little difficult. I do like a rustic, distressed look, but frequently use colors that I don't think men would appreciate!

Today, I have 2 simple style masculine looking cards to share. Enjoy! (and share what you are making in the comments)

Until Next Time~

Shari

Birthday Card Challenge

You may have heard that it is National Craft Month! Hero Arts is hosting weekly challenges to celebrate! This week's prompt is Birthday Cards, and I needed to stock up, so I made a few today!

I hoard all my scraps, and then sometimes dump them all out and make a pile of cards to try and use them up. I try to throw out the remaining scraps, but do frequently keep anything larger then a 2" x 2" square haha I just can't waste it!!

So here are a few, easy, scrap-using cards!

Tried to make an assortment for male, female and children, so I would have a few birthday cards ready when needed! What are you making this week?

Until Next Time~
Shari

Hello, Cold!

Hello! We are in the midst of a deep freeze here in Chicagoland. Nothing but white snow, grey skies and blue-tinted ice. Seems like the perfect time to lock myself in the craft room and make a few cards.

When I have trouble coming up with ideas, I like to browse my favorite craft blogs and companies for ideas and challenges, when I stumbled upon Your Next Stamp's "Fun Friday Challenge #106" and decided to enter! Unfortunately, I don't have many of their products, but maybe I will win a gift certificate and be able to do a little shopping 😀

This is a much more fun version of the colors I see out my window! Now I just just need to get it mailed to brighten someone's cold day❣

Blended

Thought I would share this paper making project from long ago, and show you what I made with it. When I decided to try making handmade paper, my husband built the drying frames for me from wood and old screens from windows. He is the best! Plus, every time he makes something for me, he gets a new tool, so it works out pretty well. :)

Started with all my scraps from Sunday school, and scrapbooking.

Cut it up and let it soak. 

Goodwill blender worked great for small batches of paper pulp.

Here is a whole tray of watery pulp (many blender containers full).

Here is the pulp draining in the screen. I gently used a sponge to soak up excess water.

These are the first sheets after they were mostly dried.

Tried ironing the next batch to hurry up the drying. 

Got a cool burnt look, but ruined my iron. Bummer! Should have picked up an old iron at Goodwill too!

One side is rougher and darker than the other side. Partly from ironing, and partly from the paper towels they laid on to dry. It gave the sheets some texture.

Second time I tried the process, I saved solid color paper, and blended it in color groups.

I didn't have much green or blue, so I got a mixed piece!

Looks of purple and yellow from old file folders. Apparently using thick cardstock to make paper creates an egg carton like, thick paper! Not sure it will be good for much, but I am learning :)

I just bought a boatload of tissue paper so I can try again. It seems as though the thinnest papers, make the best, most usable handmade sheets of paper.

After I had all this paper made, I had no clue what to do with it all, so I made a junk journal or funky looking scrapbook. The pages are so thick, I had to order special 6" binder rings!

Enjoy your weekend, and go create something! Share what you are working on in the comments! Play along with the #G45JunkJournal Challenge

Until Next Time~
Shari

Tea Too!

I made two cards for the 2017 Winter Coffee Lover's Blog Hop!

The second one is a tea card.

Hope you all have plans to spend Christmas with family and friends. Merry Christmas!
Until Next Time~
Shari

Coffee Card

I made two cards for the 2017 Winter Coffee Lover's Blog Hop!

First one was a latte fun! :)

Don't forget to check out the next post to see my tea card too!

Until Next Time~
Shari

Mixed Media Christmas Card Challenge

Trying again over at The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge, with challenge #43 "Believe".

These are some of my favorite colors for Christmas! Silver is the best!

I made this card with a die cut poinsettia with vellum, holly berry embossing folder, and silver Colorbox ink, with a little glue and bling. Here is my entry-

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!

Until Next Time-
~Shari

"stART With A Photo" ART Challenge #5

Hello again! Welcome to our Monday "stART With A Photo" challenge #5. I am still plugging along, even though no one else has played along yet! I will not be deterred! haha

So, if you are still reading, why not consider stARTing your week with an art challenge?

This week's inspiration comes from a greeting card a friend sent me. I thought the little girl pictured on the front was pretty, and I have a thing for wells. Is that weird? Anyways-

I was inspired by the colors this week, but also since I haven't felt well lately, I used my Sizzix Framelits Flip-Its die, to create a couple get well cards.

I have been making a lot of cards lately, but remember you can do any project!

Enjoy yourself. Be creative. Share your link in the comments. Please visit some of the other participant's blogs and leave them some love too!

Thanks for playing along!

Until Next Time-

~Shari

Messy Christmas To You!

Hello! I am just completing the last few cards out of the 80 I made for Christmas this year. I decided to try something new. I have been waiting to buy and use some gilding flakes for the past couple of years, so I went ahead and ordered two colors of flakes and some glue. Also, I am entering another challenge, so if you want to see that entry, it is the last card at the bottom of this post!

First, let me say, that gilding flakes make very pretty backgrounds, accents, etc. BUT they are so MESSY! I mean really messy, like in a tarred and feathered kind of way! This process might just be worse than the dreaded craft herpes....GLITTER! LOL

Seriously though, I advise following all the advice on YouTube and Pinterest from more seasoned professionals than myself, but here are a few tips I learned:

1st- Be sure your work space is large and clear.

2nd- Make sure there is no breeze, fan or movement of air. In fact, it might be a good idea to hold your breath once you open the jar of gilding flakes!

3rd- Don't use your finger to rub off the excess. (Just trust me on this)

4th- Foam brushes work great for applying the glue and for rubbing over the gilding flakes. They are great for lots of crafty projects, and cheap too!

5th- Just know that there will be a mess of poofy, light flakes, and possibly some glue all over your work space, and the floor. 

6th- On my first card, I put glue on a stamp, and then stamped that on the paper. In an effort to preserve glue, I applied a thin layer on the stamp and stamped the image....and then the stamp stuck to the paper....and then there was a lot of frantic activity to save the stamp, which in turn spread the flakes all over because of the whirlwind of my movements. Good news, it cleans off nicely with soapy water!

7th- When using the glue with a stamp, be sure to apply a THICK layer of glue to the stamp to avoid the mishap above. Also, keep the lid on the jar until you are actually ready to add them to the paper with the dried glue!

All things considered, I like the way they turned out, and will do it again, mostly because I still have a lot of gilding flakes and glue left. Hopefully, I will get better with practice!

This first one is the one withe the distressed stamped background and "Mulled Wine" flakes.

Then I tried used the "Aurora Lights" flakes to make these two cards-

The first one with the sentiment die-

This last one is my entry into the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge # 42. 

It is using the die cut "silhouette" from the first card, and the gilding flakes added to the background.

Until Next Time-

~Shari

"stART With A Photo" ART Challenge #4

Hello! If you are like me, you probably aren't a huge fan of Mondays! However, if you play along with us every Monday, you can stART your week with a challenge. Art makes everything better, even Mondays!

stART with a Photo Challenge #4

This picture was taken by me while our family was serving at a camp for families with disabilities. We were all praying and holding hands. It reminds me of the love of friends. So, I have this special birthday card as my project for this week's challenge.

Enjoy yourself. Be creative. Share your link in the comments. Please visit some of the other participant's blogs and leave them some love too!

Thanks for playing along!

Until Next Time-

~Shari

Impatient Alcohol Background

Alright, I admit it. I am impatient. So, when I saw the new Mix-Ability Challenge at Splitcoast Stampers, I wanted to try the alcohol background technique right away. The trouble is, I don't own any alcohol inks, so I made up a different way to do it.

I poured a little rubbing alcohol in a shallow styrofoam tray.

Then dripped in some Distress Inks. They sank straight to the bottom of the tray. Hmmmm

Doing this technique the right way, keep the alcohol ink on top of the water in the dish. You lay the paper on top and pick up the ink. Since that wasn't going to work, I dipped the paper in and pressed down to get it to the ink on the bottom. I smooshed it a few seconds and brought it up. I used one sheet of water color paper (the larger piece). I used a few scraps of white cardstock too, before the alcohol go "muddy" from the ink.

Here are the two cards I made once the paper dried-

Until Next Time
~Shari