Charlotte Visits the Retro Rubber Challenge

Okay, friends... I had something made with all new supplies I was going to share today, but decided instead to play along in the Retro Rubber Challenge with all old supplies.  I'm partial to this challenge because it encourages us to love on the oldies, plus it runs for two weeks which gives me more time to get a card made.  The current challenge is "Anything Goes" -- with stamps that are a year or more old.  Before I bend your ears (eyes) further I'll show you the card:

The stamps are years old.  Not sure how many years, but a lot.  The lovely Charlotte is a Loralie stamp, all of which went out of production not long after I fell in love with them.  You can still search and find a few online.  My 7 sets will have to suffice.  They've survived multiple stamp room purges as I enjoy looking at them even when I'm not stamping with them.

Charlotte was colored with Copic markers on Neenah 110 lb white.  I left all white in the background because Charlotte is such a colorful character and this card could easily get too busy.  She's so fun to dress!  Makes me feel like stepping up my wardrobe.  I don't color people stamps very often, but just look how pretty and fun she is!  I gave her red hair in honor of the late Lucille Ball whose quote I used.  There are a few details I added, such as eyelashes on Charlotte and her cat, claws on the cat, polka dots on Charlotte's blouse.

She's standing on a wood floor courtesy of Penny Black Wood Floors die.  It's not so old, but it's a first time use, so hooray for that!

Thank you, Retro Rubber, for prompting me to blow the dust off an old favorite, and thank you, my stamping friends, for stopping in and for always indulging these whims that take hold of me.  Have a beautiful day!

Double D Challenge: Sequins

Hi there!  I'm joining up with Team Diane today to usher in a new Double D challenge:  Sequins.  Honestly, you buy one bag of sequins and you have a bunch.  But then you "need" more colors, and more, and on and on it goes until you're swimming in sequins.  At least that's my story.  Well, here's some encouragement to use a few of those sequins.

I used only five sequins on my card today, but I tend to use them sparingly, which helps explain why I have so many.  I pulled a few from a pastel collection to match up with this springtime scene.

Here's our inspiration board and a prize:

   

The only thing my card has in common with the inspiration board is the sequins, but I couldn't resist coloring my pretty, not-yet-used Agnes.  Oh, how I've loved all seven of my Loralie stamp sets, but now they're no longer in production.  I shouldn't have waited so long to color this one, but I'm perfectly happy to love on her now.  To my eyes she's adorable!  By the way, she was sent as a birthday card.  What in the world do you do with a sentiment like "I feel pretty"?  Well, you make a pretty card and send it along just for fun.

Every part of my card is watercolored on Strathmore Mixed Media Vellum Surface paper.  I used another old, retired product for the watercoloring -- SU's Watercolor Wonder Crayons.  The background is swished and smooshed.  I'm enjoying these crayons after all the years of letting them sit unopened.  Each crayon holds far more paint than you find in tray-type watercolor collections, and they're actually paint -- not ink, not crayons.  Paint.  I wish I'd bought more than two sets.

Inside is spruced up with watercolored flowers and a Copic colored border.

Be sure to check the Double D blog for challenge details and to see the ultra-inspiring cards by the team.  There are more details about this card in the recipe below.  Thanks for coming to visit me.  You know I love it when you do!

Stamps:  Loralie Designs -- Agnes, Art Impressions I Feel Pretty  Paper:  Strathmore Mixed Media Vellum Surface, other white for card base  Ink:  Palette Noir, Memento Tuxedo Black (sentiment)  Coloring:  SU Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Tombow markers -- gray and black  Accessories:  Sequins, Poppystamps Freida Curve, Lil' Inker Silly Stitched Die Set, Scotch brand foam mounting tape