Southwest Greetings

Hello friends!

Moving right along to more not-yet-used supplies, in this case it's the Tim Holtz Funky Cactus set.  I thought the set was cute and different and, the fact is, I needed a thank you card for some friends who treated us to Mexican dinner.  So...

I reached into my drawerful of southwest style woodblock stamps that haven't been touched in ages.  I still love them a lot and that's why they haven't been purged.  The frame image here is an ancient Anita's stamp with no name on it.  It's all one big woodblock stamp and in order to make it a multi-color image I stamped in a light, but easily visible Copic-friendly ink, and then colored over the lines with Copics.  I think it makes a super cute frame for the cacti.

Here's an extra picture so you can see the before and after:

I've been wanting to play along with Amy Tsuruta's Woodblock Wednesday challenge which falls on the last Wednesday of each month and it's only open a few days (maybe 5?).  I'm not good with short term challenges, but I was ready for this one.

Woodblock Wednesday -- Must use a woodblock stamp.

Also:

Neglected Stuff Challenge -- All of my southwest stamps have been neglected far too long.
NBUS Challenge #87 -- My never before used schtuff is the Tim Holtz Funky Cactus die set.

 

I don't usually post two days in a row, let alone three, but tomorrow I'll be here again.  Sorry, not cards, but maybe you won't mind a few pics of Sophie and Ridley.

Enjoy your day!

HB To You -- A Little Bit Retro

Welcome back!

Today I have another die from the use-next basket -- the happy birthday sentiment die.  I found it in a Sizzix sale so it's probably already retro, but it's new to me and I love it a lot!

The rest of the dies that came out to play have varying degrees of age on them.  You know I've been plugging away at my die organizing project, and when I did the flowers category these little Poppystamps Flower Stack cuties caught my eye.  I brought in the bird and balloon for extra color and life, and it's all arranged on layered circles and a frame from my spare parts.  Just fun!

As for the die organizing/consolidating/space saving project... it requires a lot of figuring and finagling, and I can only do so much before I have to walk away from it for a while... and then I play with my discoveries.  It's as though they're brand new.  I'm hopelessly addicted.

I'll be sharing in the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More #520 -- Die cuts and/or stencils
The Neglected Stuff Challenge -- My neglected stuff is the Poppystamps Flower Stack.
Word Power June Challenge -- Sentiment as focal point

  

I appreciate your time and am glad you could visit today.  Stay safe and well and keep on crafting!

Dies:  Sizzix Happy Birthday to You, Memory Box Stitched Circle Layers and Stitched Scalloped Circles, Poppystamps Flower Stack, Cottage Cutz Love Letters (bird), Impression Obsession Balloons, Spellbinders Labels Twenty

Yellow Blooms on Black

Hi again!  Another day, another challenge or three...

More Spellbinders from my use-next basket -- Stylish Oval Hello You Floral.  It was a very quick make considering I had the Spellbinders Essential Stylish Ovals in my stash and could, therefore, simply copy the image panel as shown on the packaging.  Furthermore, the Color Hues Challenge decided the colors for me -- yellow and black.  Just a little ink blending on the flowers, a black Copic marker for the small parts, and it was ready for assembly.

The sentiment was cut right into the black oval, with a same size white oval underneath.  Woodgrain cardstock for the base, two yellow strips and three black gems -- done!

Today's challenges:

Color Hues Challenge -- Yellow and black
The Pick 3 Challenge -- Pick 3 design elements from the board.  I've used ink blending, yellow, and sentiment.
NBUS Challenge #87 -- My never before used schtuff is the Spellbinders Stylish Oval Hello You Floral.

Thank you for sharing your time with me!

Vellum, Die Cuts, and NBUS (Three Challenges)

Hello again and welcome!

I recently moved several items from my not-yet-used baskets to a use-next basket on my work desk and I'll be happily working my way through those in due time.  Spellbinders Fresh Picked Vase Bouquet was plucked from one of their warehouse sales who-knows-how-long ago and today it has made its way onto a card.  I intended to use it on a darker or more vivid background, but I had this embossed yellow piece, and Seize the Birthday is asking for vellum or acetate.  Now that I've got my mind around it I think it's kind of okay.

Using a double-sided adhesive sheet I adhered thin vellum to pale yellow cardstock and then embossed with Spellbinders Criss Cross Motif 3D folder.  I thought I'd be okay with cutting all the flower parts from colored cardstock, but I ended up doing a little sponging on the blooms and then adding sparkle and shimmer, none of which shows much in the photo.

I added cardstock strips and a string bow to the vase, and stash sentiment "happy birthday" with Spellbinders Very Best Wishes die cut.  There is a vellum shadow under the "wishes".

Today's challenges:

Seize the Birthday #328 -- Use vellum or acetate, or anything goes as long as it's birthday.
NBUS Challenge #87 -- My never before used schtuff is the Spellbinders Fresh Picked Vase Bouquet.
A Cut Above -- Anything goes with die cuts.

  

I'm off and running again.  Life outside the craft room awaits.  Enjoy your day!

Soaring Home

Hello and welcome back!

You know I've been enjoying the oldies lately, but today I decided to switch my focus to some not yet used supplies.  I felt this Simon Says Stamp Soaring Layered Bird and Cozy Birdhouse paired up nicely.

It's a bit busy, perhaps, with the designer paper and everything on an A2 card, but I was determined to fill this garden with warmth and flowers.  I die cut some flowers from the SSS Country Basket Bouquet to grow in front of the birdhouse post and give it the impression of being in the garden rather than simply in front of it.  The post, by the way, is not part of the birdhouse set.  To finish, I managed to tuck in a little "hello".

Coloring is all ink blending with brushes.  Love the woodgrain on the birdhouse.  I'll be having more fun with that later!

I'll be sharing in the following challenges:

Love those Pretty Papers -- Anything goes or optional pastels
NBUS Challenge #87 -- My never before used schtuffs are the SSS Soaring Layered Bird and Cozy Birdhouse.

 

Aside from crafting, I've been planting flowers and enjoying the garden.  I pause to throw the ball for Ridley and visit with the passersby.  Sophie has taken on the job of Neighborhood Greeter and is not to be resisted.  Everyone knows her and Ridley.

I hope you're having a lovely day wherever you are.  Thank you so much for dropping by!

Stamps:  Inside greeting only  Paper:  Lightly hammered green cardstock from stash, Cougar Vanilla, Hammermill Premium 100 lb white for die cuts, Paper Rose Bees & Butterflies designer paper  Ink:  Various Stampin' Up  Coloring:  Ink blending with brushes  Dies:  SSS Soaring Layered Bird, Cozy Birdhouse, and Country Basket Bouquet, Cottage Cutz sentiment from Telephone set, Penny Back wood floors for birdhouse post, Spellbinders Essential Arches

Double D Challenge: Tropical

Hello crafty friends!  It's time for another Double D Challenge and our theme today is "Tropical".  The inspiration board gives us so many fabulous places to start.  Check it out:

I did handsprings when I saw the fish on the board as I have lots to choose from and I love them all.  For the tropical theme I chose my Memory Box Ocean Fish 3D embossing folder with matching dies and stencils, along with the MB Underwater 3D embossing folder.  What fun!

I brushed SU Pool Party ink on the Underwater background.  I was thinking I grabbed Pool Party sandable cardstock for the base but, oops, I realized later this is Soft Sky instead.  No matter, I carried on with all my different blues.

I don't do a lot of stenciling, but these fish are actually pretty fun.  I can see how a person could get hooked on stenciling.  There are so many avenues and possibilities in this craft!

How about taking a trip to the tropics with us?  The Double D team will help get you in the mood.  Enjoy!

Also sending my fishies to play along here:

Can You Handle the Pressure -- Anything goes with an embossing folder or optional "Boys to Men".
Stencil Fun Challenge -- Anything goes with stencil or optional "butterflies".

 

Thanks!

Stamps:  Frantic Stamper Shaaaark! sentiment  Paper:  Hammermill Premium 100 lb White, SU sandable cardstock maybe Soft Sky  Ink:  Various Stampin' Up  Other:  Memory Box Ocean Fish 3D embossing folder with dies and stencils, Memory Box 3D Underwater embossing folder, rectangle die from stash for sentiment

Three Christmas Cards for June

Hi friends!  It's Christmas cards today.  I did better than last month in that I have three more to add to the box.  Loll's CAS Christmas Challenge is back and I was eager to play.  I'm not good at clean and simple as I tend to want to add that little something extra, but I always loved this challenge.  The theme this month is "Bird" -- yes, please!

My bird is colored with Tombow markers on hot pressed watercolor paper.  I painted the snow on the berries with white acrylic paint and then applied Stickles Stardust glitter.  I probably shouldn't have embossed the background as the guidelines say "no pattern", oops, but I sure do love the way it looks.  I used a double-sided adhesive sheet to apply thin vellum to cardstock before embossing it and was surprised at how white the embossed patterned turned out.

Stampendous Chickadee Holiday, Spellbinders Scallop Labels and Tag,
Spellbinders Pinecones & Berries 3D embossing folder, older retired Stampin' Up Joy die

CAS Christmas Challenge -- Bird

 

CAS Definition

- clean (uncluttered) cohesive design

- must include white "or open" space (no pattern)

- minimal layers and embellishments

************

The next two cards are not intended for the CAS Christmas Challenge. Pictured below is the same Stampendous bird set as the first card, called Chickadee Holiday.  I did not color them as Chickadees and that's just okay.  They're cute little birds that probably look like something, but I'm not sure what.  I carried on with the vellum and double-sided adhesive, this time on dark green cardstock.  It appears as though I applied white ink which smeared onto the non-embossed areas, too.   I'm flabbergasted by the whiteness.

Next, I switched to another Stampendous set called Heavenly Birds.  These plump little cutie birds and the starry background are all one stamp.  I stamped once in Ranger Archival Black for Tombow coloring, and once in white ink on navy cardstock for the white embossing.  Cut each with a frame die, mounted on navy, then white, and finally a navy card base.  Added the star and gem.  Definitely not CAS, but not too much, either.

Stampendous Heavenly Birds, Scrapbook.com North Stars die
Memory Box Oval Master Frame, Poppystamps Christmas banners with dies

Total Christmas cards in the box:  17

I may do more Christmas cards this month, but I'm not sure.  No pressure, just come what may.

Thank you so much for your time!

Treat Yourself

Hi again, friends!  Seize the Birthday's "Sweet Treats" prompt grabbed my attention and I was inspired to play along with another oldie or two.  I have baskets full of not yet used stamps and dies, but sometimes you just have to go with the flow.  I've used Stampendous Tiers of Treats with an Inky Antics sentiment.

The gingham is a lightweight cardstock from a 12 x 12 pad which I'll never finish off in my lifetime.  I made the whole card with it and lined the inside.  The cute loopy border trim begged to be used after too long a time, and then I just kept adding more.  I cut the image with a tag die and found the matching frame in my spare parts.  Coloring was done with Tombow markers on watercolor paper.

The inside sentiment is another Stampendous oldie:

I continue to struggle mightily with my new photo editing software.  It takes so long to get a photo to look right that I almost want to give up, yet I persevere.  Still working on the die sorting project, too.  Little by little.

Two challenges here:

Seize the Birthday -- Sweet Treats
Neglected Stuff -- My neglected stuff is the loopy border and the Tiers of Treats.  The last time I used this stamp was 2019... I looked it up.

 

Thanks for sparing me a few minutes of your time.  It's been some busy days here and I imagine it's the same for you.  Take care and we'll meet again soon!

Stamps:  Stampendous Tiers of Treats and Birthday Calories sentiment (inside), Inkyy Antics Pampered Benton Treat Yourself sentiment, SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds (sprinkles)  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb watercolor paper, gingham cardstock, other scraps, Neenah 110 lb white  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Close to Cocoa for sprinkles  Coloring:  Tombow markers  Dies:  Sizzix Fancy Tags, SSS Pretty Bows, Lawn Fawn Outside In Stitched Scalloped Rectangles, Taylored Expressions Ric Rac Borders, Frantic Stamper Livermore Loop Border, Spellbinders Standard Circles and Scalloped Circles