Sing! It's Spring!

Hello friends!  Does it look like spring where you are?  There are daffodils blooming along our street, but at my house there's nothing but a sand pit in the front yard, currently full of rain puddles.  We had some work done on our sewer line -- not at all a pretty picture, but we're happy it's done.  Now waiting for the landscaper to make some time for us.  Everything will work out.

For the time being, I can have blue skies, blooming trees, and new life on my cards.  Simon Says Stamp drew me in with all the cute stuff in their March kit and, yes, I signed up.  I figured it's not the same as shopping if it comes as a monthly subscription, right?  I know, I know!  Fooling myself.  I've been on a shopping hiatus for months, but now I have this plus some gifts from a friend, and the next SSS kit will be coming soon... you know how it is.  I'll do my best to get to all of it and have plenty of fun in the process.

The stamp set here is Tweet Friend.  I purchased the matching dies separately.  I think you can see which of the stamps were die cut.  The mailbox stamp has a little flag with heart, but I masked it off with tape before inking, then removed the tape before stamping so I could stamp the mamma bird in its place.  I colored with Copics and brushed inks on the background.  A narrow edge of pink and some wood grain-embossed white space finish the front.

I didn't exactly match the mood board, but I don't think they'll mind:

Four Seasons Challenge -- Spring

Thank you for visiting!  Happy spring!

Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Tweet Friend with coordinating dies  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, SU Pink Pirouette  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Bashful Blue and Mellow Moss  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Tim Holtz Sizzix Lumber 3D embossing folder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Double D Challenge -- Birds

Hi friends!  Double D Challenge time is here again, and Double D Darlene is asking for birds.  Well, I think I have a bird or two in my toy box.  Have a look at all the color in the inspiration board:

And a prize for a random winner.  Creative favorites, as always, are voted on by the team.

One of my favorite things about challenges is that they oftentimes remind me of something fabulous I have in my stash.  Today it's the Marianne Collectables Toucan.  He's a fun guy that I've only used once and I was pretty happy for the nudge to bring him out to play again.  There's just something about him...

I cut all his parts from colored cardstock and did a little sponging around the edges of each piece, except I didn't sponge the feet and you can see the difference.  Next time I'll remember to sponge.

His tropical habitat is made up of non-tropical dies on a background of designer paper.  I added the sun circle to highlight him.  Or maybe it's a moon?  A make-believe world can be anything you imagine.

Try as I might, I couldn't get happy with any kind of sentiment placement on the front, but inside it says "Just another day in Paradise".

Hop over to the Double D blog and see some beautiful bird cards, then show us yours.  I hope you enjoy our challenge.  Have a happy day!

Dies:  Marianne Collectables Toucan, Poppystamps Sylvan Frame and Sylvan Sprig, Spellbinders Standard Circles Large

Happy St. Patrick's Day... with a Christmas Card

I know... I'm pretty far off the mark posting a Christmas card on St. Patrick's Day.  I've been a little busy, but I was determined to play in Jo's Christmas Kickstart Challenge where she's asking for colors that are "Not the Norm".

Wanting to use up some older designer paper, I pulled out the least "normal" pack I have.  It's full of non-traditional colors in fun prints, and this particular piece in yellow is top of the non-traditional charts.  Keeping with the theme, I cut the die in pink and embellished with multi-colored snowflakes.

There's Diamond Stickles glitter on the snowflakes and Wink of Stella shimmer on the snowy cut out areas of the sledding kids.  I wasn't sure I liked it at first, but it's grown on me and, as always, it's much prettier in person when you can get the full effect of the sparkle and texture.

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #96 -- Not the Norm.  Use non-traditional colors.
NBUS Challenge #72 -- My "never before used schtuff" is the Cottage Cutz Alpine Sledding die

 

I'm glad you could stop by today.  Take care till next time!

Stamps:  Lawn Fawn Winter Wavy Sayings  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, Stampin' Up Melon Mambo, Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly designer paper  Ink:  Melon Mambo for sentiment, Copics to color snowflakes  Dies:  Cottage Cutz Alpine Sledding, Spellbinders Essential Arches, Lawn Fawn Fancy Wavy Banners, Impression Obsession Snowflakes, tiny snowflakes from another Cottage Cutz set  Other:  Diamond Stickles, Wink of Stella, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Guesting with Seize the Birthday

Hello, friends!  It's a happy day as I'm kicking off a guest spot for the next two months with Seize the Birthday.  I was delighted when Nancy reached out to me, and it's been a treat preparing for it.

 

Our topping this month is "Anything that Flies".  If you prefer not to do the topping, that's okay as long as it's a birthday card.

I went for the topping because my stamp and die collection is full of things that fly.  Many of them have not yet been used, such as the butterflies on today's card.  They're from the Memory Box Fuchsia release, summer 2024.  These are the Canyon Butterflies.  So pretty!

The rest of the card is made up of goodies I shopped from my stash -- some many years old, some maybe only a year or two, but it's all good.  I think of my craft room as a big, wonderful toy box.

This is one of Jill Foster's sketches for Penny Black, somewhat modified to accommodate my focal area.  The already-colored embossed panel was pulled from my spare parts, and I nested some oldie Sizzix tag dies to make the frame.  Flowers and Nuvo drops and Penny Black sentiments fill in the rest.  Color is courtesy of ink blending with brushes.  I think you can even see the glitter in the flower centers.

That's all from me!  You know the team at Seize the Birthday always has fabulous samples to inspire you.  Check them out and then play along with yours!  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Enjoy Builder and Happy Builder  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, scrap olive cardstock  Ink:  Stampin' Up Certainly Celery, Pink Pirouette, Barely Banana, Bashful Blue, Close to Cocoa, Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Ink blending with brushes, Copic 35 for flower centers  Other:  Memory Box Canyon Butterflies, Elizabeth Craft Bunch of Flowers 4, Sizzix Fancy Tags, Creative Expressions Fanciful Flowers 3D embossing folder, Nuvo Sugared Almond Crystal Drops, Diamond Stickles glitter

Double D Challenge -- Going Green

Hi, friends!  A new Double D challenge begins today and this time Diane says we're "Going Green".  Anything green will do.  There's a beautiful mood board for inspiration.  It certainly did inspire me!  See the board and a prize pictured below:

The prize goes to a random winner, and creative favorites are voted on by the team.

My inspiration came from the upper left and the lower right corners of the board which, happily, prompted me to pull out a Lavinia Forest Leaf stamp which was a birthday present in October.

I colored with Copics, and Lavinia's Mooch came along to see how it turned out.  Inspired by the painted wall, upper left corner of the board, I swiped ink up the image panel directly from pad to paper.  Burgundy sprinkles were stamped as a finishing touch.

The Double D team has some beautiful ideas to share with you, so check them out.  We'd love to see your green, too!  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Lavinia Forest Leaf, Lavinia Mooch, Stampin' Up Itty Bitty Backgrounds sprinkle (retired), Hero Arts Moments sentiment  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, Stampin' Up Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Bravo Burgundy  Ink:  Same as cardstock plus Memento Tuxedo Black for Mooch, and Versamark for sentiment  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Stampin' Up Subtle embossing folder on card base, WOW white embossing powder for sentiment, label die

Featuring Pink Roses for The Flower Challenge

Welcome back!  It's good to be here with my crafty friends again so soon.  Today I'm sharing a card I made for The Flower Challenge where they're asking for pink.  I can do that!

While I had my Penny Black Winsomely set out for Rich's Valentine I decided to go right ahead and keep playing with it.  This time I stamped the larger image in a soft grey and watercolored with a combination of Stampin' Up inks and Tombow markers.  One of the card bases I made up with Jill's Sketch #4 made for a quick card design.

After coloring I cut by hand, then turned the flower cluster face down on a foam pad and used an Empressor rolling ball embossing tool to slightly round the cluster.  Added bits of foam tape under the rounded parts.  It's amazing how this small process improves the look of a hand cut image... when I can remember to do it.

I ink blended the sentiment and the panel inside the arch, and added some stamped splatters.  Before I adhered the flowers to the card I splattered with white acrylic paint.  I really don't know what's going wrong with my splatters lately, but it appears as though I dropped a paint can nearby. 

The Flower Challenge #99 -- Feature the color pink
Penny Black Saturday Challenge -- Optional use a heart

 

There are more details in the supply list below.  I'll wrap it up now and leave you with a wish for a happy day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Winsomely, Stampin' Up! Itty Bitty Backgrounds (splatter stamp)  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot pressed watercolor, Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb  Ink:  Ranger Archival Shadow Grey, SU So Saffron and More Mustard  Coloring:  Watercolor with SU inks and Tombow markers  Other:  Cottage Cutz Hope Phrase, Spellbinders Essential Arches, Spellbinders Arches & Dots embossing folder, white acrylic paint, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Double D Challenge: Color Red

Hello friends!  The Double D team is seeing red today... in a good way.  Everything in Blogland seems to be red or pink this month, and why not?  'Tis the month to let red have its way, so that's our challenge -- show us your red.  Here's a lovely mood board for inspiration if you so desire:

Creative winners are voted on by the team, and the prize pictured below will go to a random winner.

Penny Black Across the Miles premium 3.25" x 4.5" cardstock

For my sample I used Stampendous Mailbox Spring with a sentiment from another Stampendous set.  I colored with Copics and covered the card base with Echo Park Love Notes paper.  I'm sure this Valentine has been received by now, but no telling with the crazy weather it has to go through to get there.

I ink-sponged the edges of the image panel and flicked a little water.  Added Wink of Stella to the butterflies.

I love red and think it should get to come out and play more often.  I'll work on that.  In the meantime, I hope to see your red in our gallery at Double D.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Stampendous Mailbox Spring and Flower Frame sentiment  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, scrap red, Echo Park Love Notes designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Bashful Blue, Pink Pirouette, and Old Olive for image edges  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Lil' Inker Silly Stitched Die Set, SU 3-in-1 Heart Punch, Wink of Stella on butterflies

A Valentine for my Sweetie

Hello, friends!  Today I'm sharing the Valentine I made for my sweetie.  I generally make him something humorous or cute with critters, but thought I'd surprise him with a pretty card this year.  I've used Penny Black's Winsomely.  Just the one rose, stamped twice, colored and hand cut.  I opted not to get the dies for this set.

Jill's Sketch #4 from her latest series for Penny Black was one of my favorites.  It's so simple, but practical and it takes a plain white background out of the ordinary.  I love it so much that I made five card bases in this layout, but with different embossing folders.  While I was at it I made two with another of her sketches, and then I ran out of time, but I'll get back to it.  I like the idea of having these made up and ready for whenever I take a notion to add a splash of color or cuteness.

I nested Spellbinder's dies to make the frame, layered three times and popped up on foam tape.  The "love" is a Frantic Stamper die layered three times.  The black cardstock on the top "love" layer was made glossy by covering with clear packing tape before cutting.  Same with the hearts.  Thanks to Natalie Bowers at NB Cards for that trick.

I'm playing along here:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge -- Optional hearts
NBUS Challenge #71 -- My never before used schtuff is the Winsomely stamp set.

 

I hope you all had a lovely Valentine's Day.  Sending love and hugs all around!

Stamps:  Penny Black Winsomely  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, scrap black cardstock  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Spellbinders Devine Eleoquence and Labels Twenty-Eight, Frantic Stamper Sending Love/Hugs, hearts from spare parts, Spellbinders Scallops embossing folder, clear packing tape