Penny Black Christmas

Hello and welcome, friends!  Five more Christmas cards are in the box now that I've finished a batch with a set from my Penny Black collection.  Wintertime Cheer goes back to 2016, but it's new to me this year.  I colored and cut out all the images -- Tombow markers & blender on watercolor paper -- and then assembled into cards.

To begin, I'm playing along with Jo and Elf Loll at the Christmas Kickstart Challenge where this month's theme is "Snow Alert".  My furry friend is determined to deliver his presents so he loaded up his trailer and is trundling through the white stuff with more flakes falling as he goes.

Taylored Expression Jingle all the Way, Memory Box Bauble Snowflake,
Impression Obsession Small Snowflake Set, white acrylic paint,
Simple Stories Fresh Snow designer paper

There is Diamond Stickles for sparkle, glaze on the jingle bells, a background from my stash behind the sentiment panel.

The next card is the simplest and my favorite of the bunch.  You'd think I'd learn.  I'm trying.

Penny Black Joy Edger and Graceful Holly
stash sentiment

From dogs to cat and mouse... I used some ages old designer paper on the sentiment and scattered die cut poinsettias and snowflakes below.  Pine branches lightly texture the white space overhead.

Penny Black Jolly Edger, Memory Box Seraphine Laurel (poinsettias)
Impression Obsession Small Snowflake Set
Tim Holtz Sizzix Pine Branches embossing folder

Finally, two cards, one photo.  

Penny Black Joy & Warmth sentiments, Penny Black Wood Floor
Impression Obsession Birch Tree Rectangle and Small Snowflake Set
Memory Box Seraphine Laurel, Poppystamps Prim and Proper Bow
MFT Die-namics Stitched Rectangle Frames

That wraps it up!  How about some challenges?

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #103 - Snow Alert -- Sending my first card along for that.
Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge #98 -- The team has amazing samples following an inspiring mood board.  I'm sending my humble tractor & dog to join the convoy.
NBUS Challenge #79 -- Never before used schtuff.  Today my PB Wintertime Cheer, Jolly Edger, Joy Edger, and Graceful Holly are all being used for the first time

 

 

All my remaining Christmas cards will be made with never before used supplies as I have managed to gather quite a collection this year through sales, gifts, and just plain love of the craft.  Not sorry.

Thank you for coming to say "hi"!  I appreciate you and wish you a happy day!

Double D Challenge: Halloween Colors

Hi, friends!  We're doing Halloween colors this time around at Double D, and it doesn't even have to be a Halloween card.  I love that idea!  Here's our board with some color inspiration:

A prize will go out to a random winner.  Creative winners are by team vote.  See the Double D challenge Blog for more details.

I challenged myself to make a pretty card with colors I might use on a Halloween card, but totally NOT a Halloween card.  Have a look:

I made a blended background of olive, warm orange, and rich yellow.  Stamped the beautiful vining flourish over that in black, then topped it with purple butterflies and a purple band.  It's on a purple card base, and the sentiment picks up more of the black.

After I cut and colored the butterfly wings I pressed them into a Versamark pad and embossed with an iridescent embossing powder.  Very sparkly and it stays put!

Treat yourself to a peek at the team's samples.  Remember, it's anything in Halloween colors.  I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

Thank you for your time.  Have a beautiful day!

Stamps:  Hero Arts Leafy Vines, Simon Says Stamp Tweet Friend w/die (sentiment)  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, Stampin' Up Elegant Eggplant, scrap black  Ink:  Stampin' Up Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, Lavender Lace, Versafine Onyx Black. Versamark    Coloring:  Ink blending with brushes  Other:  Memory Box Canyon Butterflies, WOW Opaque White Super fine embossing powder, Iridescent Peacock embossing powder (old in my stash), Scotch brand foam mounting tape to pop up sentiment strip

Autumn Curio Tray

Hello, friends!  I didn't craft as much as I'd hoped this week, but I did make a card for my friend's October birthday.  I love fall cards and so I'm taking this opportunity to combine the two occasions.  Aside from that, I have two not-yet-used Tim Holtz die sets which have been lingering in the basket far too long:  Artsy Leaves and Papercut Cafe.  I figured I could combine the two.

The card base with Memory box Vintage Tray was in my collection of pre-prepped card bases which I  make up ahead and keep on hand.  Once in a while I actually use one of them.  In this case I decided I wanted to add another frame layer so I went to my die collection, frame category, and... it wasn't there.

I searched far and wide with no luck.

I freaked out a little.

After a worry-filled interlude I remembered it's an embossing folder/die combo and it's filed with the embossing folders.  I must be slipping.  I know you've had similar experiences, right?

Once I found it I was able to cut an extra frame and emboss in gold, and then get down to the business of filling my vintage/curio tray.  It started out simple and got curiouser and curiouser.  My friend likes glitter so I slathered on some Diamond Stickles.  It looks messy and grainy in the photo, but is very pretty in real life.

Since I combined apparently neglected stuff with never before used stuff I'll be sharing in the following two challenges: 

Neglected Stuff, October -- My neglected stuff is the Memory Box Vintage Tray.
NBUS Challenge #79 -- My never before used schtuffs are the Tim Holtz Sizzix Artsy Leaves and Papercut Cafe dies

 

I hope to see you again soon.  Thanks so much for stopping in to visit!

Dies:  Tim Holt Sizzix Artsy Leaves, Papercut Cafe, Holiday Greens Mini, Memory Box Vintage Tray 3D Embossing Folder and Die, Creative Expressions For You sentiment, Heartfelt Creations Delicate Asters, misc. stars that popped out of some die (?) saved in my magic jar
Other:  Ranger Princess Gold embossing powder, Stickles Diamond glitter glue

Pumpkins and Sunflowers

Hi and welcome to a new week!  It's been a busy time at my house with new furniture followed by new carpet in the living room and, let me tell you, it's a lot for Rich and me to deal with.  We had a little help moving furniture (why is it all so heavy these days?), but we did a lot of it on our own, too.  Finally, we're a little more settled and I can get back to regular crafting!

I have fall supplies on my table and I've been playing with them as time allows.  Today I brought out a previously enjoyed Cottage Cutz Fall Centerpiece set and a not-yet-used Spellbinders Pumpkin Patch 3D embossing folder from an earlier warehouse sale.

I colored all with inks and brushes and put them together on a sanded card base with textured white backing up the centerpiece.  Older sentiments from my stash.  Cinnamon Stickles on the sunflower centers.

I'll be sharing here:

Darnell's NBUS (never before used schtuff) Challenge #79 with my NBUS Pumpkin Patch embossing folder.
Darlene and Diane's Four Seasons Challenge -- October, with a beautiful inspiration board.

 

I hope to be back here soon and I'll look forward to seeing you.  Take care!