A break from scrapbooking!

Hello!  It's another hot one here and I'm going to zoom through my 'to do' list so I can get a few more scrapbook pages knocked out!  However, as the title states, I took a break from scrapbook mode to create a few cards.  I used some papers that I unearthed when I sorted all of my loose pattern paper.  I have a small stack I am challenging myself to either use or donate.  It has actually made things a bit simpler since I just go to those and make them work for what I need.  I'm still occasionally sneaking into my other paper stash, but the loose papers often are overlooked when I create, so this really helps me use them!

I actually don't need a lot of birthday cards for my stash (Christmas is a completely different story, but I haven't been motivated to make those yet...), but I did need a few youth and ladies cards.  I also made a couple of sympathy cards because those are nice to have on hand as well.

The kids cards were a lot of fun and I pulled out some older stamps and 

my copics to create these.  The top card uses 4 different stamp 

sets and who doesn't love wiggle eyes on a card?!

 

I also did a bit of coloring with copics on the flower.  I forgot

how relaxing it is to just sit and color! Need to do that more often!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Happy 7 year Blogiversary!!

Hello! Today is a very special day here at Black Shadow Creations! It is my 7 year Blogiversary and I can honestly say I am so excited to still be here!  Over the years, there has been an ebb and flow to my posting due to various reasons, but I still enjoy creating and sharing in Blogland.  I have made some wonderful Virtual friends and have gained so much information and knowledge over the years.  I've also noticed that paper craft blogging has lost some of it's popularity...

Why be a follower of a blog when you can simply search Pinterest for an idea? Not to mention there are so many new ways of communicating and sharing now... However, Facebook, Pinterest, and the other forums don't offer a genuine way to tell your story or a way to really get to know about the artist you admire.  My girls argue that no one has time to 'read' that much and this is why they love Snapchat and Instagram.  Personally, it makes me more than a little sad that we have become so busy that we don't 'have time' to actually connect with other people...  This is why I will continue to blog (as my real life schedule allows) and visit other's blogs.  There is something so comforting and human about not only seeing someone's creation, but learning about their inspiration and motivation.  It's like actually talking to your favorite artist.  Imagine how fabulous it would be to see a Monet painting and have his words telling you about the day he painted Water Lilies, or sharing in Van Gogh's sufferings as you looked at Wheat Field with Crows (believed to be his last painting).  It is in the spirit of these thoughts that I am offering some Blog Candy and the opportunity to share YOUR blog with others!

The candy is a surprise (partly because that's just fun, and mostly because I haven't finalized exactly what or how much I'll be giving!) and there will be more than one winner!  I'm not going to require 'following' because I only want you to do that if you really want to, but commenting is a necessity!  Sharing on your blog is perfectly ok, but also not a requirement.  When you leave a comment, please leave a link to your blog (if you have one) and I will be putting together a post with all of the links for others to enjoy.  On March 22 (one month away!), I will 'draw' a name (or more) and announce the winner(s)!  This blog candy is open to anyone since some of my favorite artists/bloggers aren't in the US! *I do have comment monitoring, but as long as you're not spamming or scamming you'll be accepted! Only one entry per person, please! Don't be greedy!!*

I'm going to end this post with a reinvention of my very first blog post creation!  You can see the original gift card holder here! This is an easy to make gift card holder using a paper towel tube, patterned paper, and some pretties!

I will not procrastinate... I will not procrastinate...

At our last SU team meeting, Tiffany gave us two different types of challenge.  One was to read the article in the latest Stampin' Success about changing habits that hold you back, then pick something to change.  While I'm sure there are several things I could change to make myself more organized and a better prepared demonstrator, I picked the most obvious one for me...procrastinating.  How nice would it be for me to have everything ready for club and classes ahead of time, instead of finishing and packing at the last minute...  So challenge number one was completed.  On to the second challenge- the color combo sketch challenge and since I'm not procrastinating, I have my card finished and there's still over two weeks until our meeting! Woo! Hoo!

So here is my 'not last minute' card using the colors island indigo, baja breeze, and rich razzleberry.  I have to say these colors really made me think.  I'm still not sure I'm thrilled with the finished product, but I don't hate it either...

Just a little fussy cutting on the balloons, sponging for the sky, and a little twine to dress it up.  I stamped the party arrow in versamark to add a little interest to the baja breeze panel.  Well, wish me luck with my newest endeavor!  Hope you have a great day and happy crafting!

Card Recipe:  Cardstock-island indigo, baja breeze, rich razzleberry, whisper white, Ink-island indigo, rich razzleberry, baja breeze, versamark, Stamp Set-Party This Way, Accessories- island indigo twine, bitty banner framelit

Blossom Builders Birthday

I was looking for something a little different to create for my stamp club and came across the blossom builders set in the Occasions mini.  I have to admit that I completely overlooked these until a fellow demonstrator did a tictac holder at one of our team meetings.  They are so awesome! All you have to do is punch them out and glue them down! And there is a solid color on one side and a print on the other.  Plus there are those fantastic pink rhinestones too! So I used the card in the mini (changed very little!) as one of my projects.  This was a really easy card to put together and the ladies loved the flowers!

While there are banner strips in the kit, I used very vanilla paper and snipped the ends. The sentiment is from Party This Way which is on the retiring list : (   I also used a circle as the base of my flower.

Card Recipe:  Cardstock-baja breeze, very vanilla, lucky limeade, Ink-baja breeze, Stamp Set-Party This Way, Accessories-Blossom Builders, word window punch, 1 3/4 circle punch, square lattice folder

Scrapbook Monday-Nifty to be 50

I want to start off with a personal note of thanks to all who left get well comments for my DH.  He is doing a bit better and is getting around a lot better now.  Due to the nature of his job, he will be on a leave of absence until the first of May when he is released by his doctor.  Now I'll be needing prayers for his sanity (and mine!) as he wanders around the house looking for something he can do!  Maybe I can teach him to scrapbook!!  We are very blessed that his surgery went well and even more so that they did not find anything to be alarmed about.

Saturday, my sister and I went to a Relay for Life fundraising crop.  We started at about 8:30 and finally called it quits at 2:00! It was WONDERFUL!!! I had a great time checking out others creativity, eating lots of awesome food, winning prizes, and of course getting some crafting done!  They really spoiled all of us and I was so proud to finish 6 pages in my sister's 50th birthday album.  I also got all of the prep work done for my club projects.  So now I have the rest of the week to play around with other fun crafty projects.  My sister made the cutest purse card and silly me....I forgot to take a picture of it.  Had my camera and everything and didn't take the first picture...  I will try to snag one and post it on my blog.  We had the best time just crafting and oohing and ahhing over the different pages and cards.

But enough of my weekend... On to the scrapbook page!  I am the youngest in our family and while I always took a lot of good natured teasing about being the 'baby' and 'spoiled'.  I am now able to enjoy giving the 'over the hill' comments that I can share with my wonderful older sisters!!  The coffin was not my idea (wish it was!hee!hee!) but since our color theme was black and white, we thought it looked perfect in the corner!  My sister was a true sport and even stepped in to pose for pictures!  I had to pull in some spider web dp from my stash to add to the 'fun' of this page!

I used the stamp set Party This Way for the awesome balloons and the arrow. A little fussy cutting, a few dimensionals, and I had the perfect embellishments for the theme.  The title was cut with the cricut and the journaling lines are from a very retired stamp called Just Journaling.  It may have been my very first SU stamp!!  I left the journaling area blank so my sister could record her own thoughts.

**The Stampin' UP retiring stamp set list is now available!  Be sure to get your favorites before they are gone!!

Have a wonderful Monday, and may the rest of your week be crafty!

Page Recipe: Whisper White and Basic Black cardstock, dp from stash, Party This Way and Just Journaling stamp sets, black stazon ink

Tiffany's Challenge

Every month our SU group, The Crafty SisTAHS, get together.  Tiffany, my upline's upline, hosts the meeting and everyone takes turns with sharing, making a project, choosing a swap theme, and bringing snacks.  This month, Tiffany had a challenge for all of us to make a card using a sketch and some cardstock she gave us.  We were allowed to add a neutral color and any embellishments, but couldn't change the color combo.  The colors were wisteria wonder, cherry cobbler, and pretty in pink.  Very girly colors! So I pulled out the stamp, Packed For Mom for the first time; added some whisper white, and began to put my card together. I had a great time playing with this image! I knew I wanted to color some of the images and pop up the flower and the next think I knew...the dazzling details  and crystal elements came out and there was even some fussy cutting too!

A closer shot of the image...

I have to confess that I did use a different base than the one Tiffany gave me.  I knew I wanted to use bakers twine as the 3 ribbon/bows part of the sketch and couldn't wrap them with the base she gave us.  So I cut a new piece the long way for my card.  Hopefully, she'll forgive me for taking liberties with her challenge : )  I really enjoyed doing this and hope she will continue to offer these challenges.  I really didn't use wisteria wonder too much before, but now I think it's starting to grow on me!  Thanks, Tiffany!

Card Recipe:  Cardstock-wisteria wonder, cherry cobbler, pretty in pink, whisper white, Ink-black Stazon and several markers, Stamp Sets-Packed For Mom and Party This Way (sent), Punches-modern label, large oval, word window, 3/4 " circle, Extras- white bakers twine, cherry cobbler & original dazzling details, crystal effects, basic rhinestones, perfect polka dots embossing folder

Grease is the word

Well, as promised here is the second manly card I created this week.  I starting out with the plan of CASEing Amanda, and somehow ended up here instead! This card really looks nothing like Amanda's, and I do have intentions of still CASEing her!! 

I recently received the stamp set, Party This Way, FREE! Yep, you read that correctly! This is also one of the Sale-a-bration stamp sets!  (There is still time to take advantage of the fabulous FREEBIES from this catalog!) Anyway...I was thinking one of the balloons would be a good backing for the sentiment.  As I stamped, fussy cut, and tried different positioning, the card took on a life of it's own.  The strips of paper moved to the side, the base was embossed, and one balloon turned into 3!  The only thing that remained from my original idea was the sentiment label!

I did make one mistake on this card. I asked DH his opinion... (What was I thinking?!) His response was that it 'looked good' but how did I make it look like it was greasy. Greasy... So from here on out, I do not 'distress' or 'grunge' a guy card; I 'grease' it!!

I'm getting ready for yet another busy weekend with little time for crafting, but there's only one more week until spring break begins! Woo! Hoo!  I am hoping to get a lot of scrapbooking done during that time! Of course, spring cleaning will have to be squeezed in there somewhere too...boo!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Card Recipe: Card stock-crumb cake, real red, bashful blue, Ink-real red, bashful blue, Stamp Set-Party This Way, Accessories- square lattice folder, modern label punch

Feeling Masculine...

I haven't spent nearly enough time in my crafty area, but today allowed a little time after everyone went to bed.  I was looking through my stash of cards and noticed there weren't many manly birthday cards.  Normally this would make me cringe since I tend to  have a creative block against this type of card.  But for some reason, as I was looking through my retired stamps, an idea popped in my head. Crazy!!  I had used this stamp set a looooong time ago and can't even remember what the card looked like, but I thought the sand dollar would look good in crumb cake.

The rest of the card just kind of fell into place.  The color combo came from the color coach.  I knew I wanted crumb cake and white, but couldn't decide on the other colors.  I have to say that I would not have put bashful blue with this combo, but I think it turned out OK.  When I saw always artichoke as one of the colors, I immediately thought of the denim jean ribbon that I had NEVER used before!  It is the perfect ribbon for a guy card! I didn't have any artichoke cardstock, but did have this retired DSP with both artichoke and crumb cake!!  Plus, this uses up some of my hoarded DSP that desperately needs to be utilized!

When I finished this card, I had enough inspiration left to make another guy card! But you'll have to wait til my next post for that one!

Card Recipe: Card stock-crumb cake, bashful blue, whisper white, Autumn Traditions DSP (ret), Ink-crumb cake, stazon black, Stamp Sets- Nature's Wonders (ret), Party This Way (sent.), Accessories- always artichoke denim jean ribbon