Woodland Bear and Polar Bear for Christmas

Hi my crafty friends!  I have two more for Christmas today because 'tis the season to pick up the pace.  I'm not sure how many names are on my list this year as I haven't counted, but it seems the number is dwindling.  I may have to come up with a different use for all my Christmas stamps and dies, and I certainly need to quit buying them.

However, this year I picked up the cute Hero Arts Peeking Winter Bear in a Spellbinders sale.  All the rest of my Christmas NBUS is from last year.  See what I mean?  Too much!

Along with the bear I've used the quite beautiful Simon Says Stamp Mountainside Leaves embossing folder for the first time.  The panel is Cougar Vanilla, brushed with SU Creamy Caramel.  It deserves to be front and center, but the nice thing about embossing folders is that it can be used over and over.

I could not get a photo that shows the sparkly parts adequately, but IRL the card almost appears to be in motion as you walk by it.  The star is glitter paper, the pom pom and the snowline on the ground are Diamond Stickles, and the tree decorations are Candy Cane Stickles -- so much prettier in hand.  The Candy Cane Stickles are a red and gold combo.  So blah in the photo (😞).

Next I made a polar bear with my Penny Black Crystal Frame and Memory Box Bauble Snowflakes.  I probably overuse the Crystal Frame, but it's so pretty!  The "Greetings" on both cards is a Cottage Cutz die.  Lots of glitter touches.  I added a heart to the bear and one to the snowflake.  This card is my favorite of the two.

Total Christmas cards in the box:  31

Sharing here:

Can You Handle the Pressure -- Anything goes using an embossing folder, with a twist of trees.  Sending my first card there.
Sisterhood of Crafters -- Frame it.  Sending my second card there.
NBUS Challenge #90 -- My never before used schtuffs are Hero Arts Peeking Winter Bear and Simon Says Stamp Mountainside Leaves embossing folder.

That's it for today.  There's always something crafty in the works so I hope to be back soon.  In the meantime I'll be stopping by to see what artful goodness you're up to.  I know it's going to be amazing!  Have a lovely day!

Halloween Play -- Art Journal Pages and a Card

Hello and welcome!

So... I've been thinking about art journaling for quite a while.  I watched a few videos... then more... and more.  I came to realize how it can be anything you want, any style, any techniques, any supplies you want to lay down on paper.  Make your own mixed media background, make a designer paper background, use stamps, dies, ephemera, lace, ribbon, doodads, whatever.  Make it simple or complex.  Just be you.

I have some new-to-me ghosties -- Simon Hurley's Boo Crew for Spellbinders --  loved them last year, picked up on sale this year.  They live in a scary looking world, but they're dapper and friendly guys.  A little goofy.  I love them!

Since I'm new to the art journaling concept and don't currently have a journal I thought I would test the waters by improvising with an accordion fold.  It's only four pages with a front and back cover.  Each page is 4" x 6", and the art is done on 3 3/4" x 5 3/4" hot press watercolor sheets.

As for the backgrounds on these two pages, I followed Vicki Papaioannou's advice to just start doing something -- anything -- and keep doing it until you realize you actually like it.  My words, not hers, but that's the general idea.

I knew I was going with a Halloween theme so I did my best with torn paper and ivory acrylic paint which I dried with a heat tool and was pleased with how the paint crackled in a few spots.  I stenciled random areas with a Fibers stencil in gray ink.  Rather creepy looking fibers, don't you think?  Stamped some Halloween-y images, then stenciled the stars in Lime Green stencil butter.  Finished the background by sponging black around the edges.  Glued the backgrounds in place and then added the dimensional elements.

That's it in a nutshell but, honestly, it really didn't take long and I have to say it was more fun than I've had with this craft in a long time.  It felt like freedom.

After the journal pages were done it was quick work to create a card using many of the same supplies.  The ghosts and Jack-o-lantern bucket and the die cut sentiment on the card are part of the Boo Crew set.  The Rustic Fence is by Cottage Cutz.

I'll be sharing in two challenges:

Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge, September.  Anything goes Halloween with mood board for inspiration.
NBUS Challenge #90.  My never before used schtuff is the Spellbinders Boo Crew and Cottage Cutz Rustic Fence.

 

Well, that was fun!  I hope to see you again real soon.  Thanks for your visit today!

Sunflower and Asters

Greetings friends!  I have fall colors today and another photo-filled post.  This time of year I always try to play with the last of my summer flower purchases.  I don't like to rush so I never catch up, but it doesn't matter... I'll have plenty of flowers left over to brighten the winter days.

Today I have late summer - early fall blooms, starting with a cute little Golden Sunflower that came free with a Simon Says Stamp purchase.  Several sentiments and the butterflies are included in the set.  Very nice!

I used three different stitched dies, a tad bit of designer paper, and a border of leaf ribbon that comes out of the drawer most every fall.  I also pulled out some very old Prismatics Papaya Puree Dark and Prismatics Crabapple Dark cardstock.  Maybe you can see the lightly hammered texture.  The sunflower stamp was colored with Copics, and the image panel brushed with ink.

The next two cards focus on the SSS Daisy Frame set.  Stamped and cut with the matching dies, I thought they could also look like asters or perhaps chrysanthemums if I colored them as such.  I added more texture with Spellbinders Scallops embossing folder.

A rather traditional aster color for the next card.  Simpler, a bit of designer paper for the arched frame, and an old Cuttlebug Diamonds in the Rough embossing folder was used for texture within the frame.  Both asters cards were colored with Tombow markers and blender.

Forgive me for not writing a supply list, but I think I covered the essentials.

I'll be sending my sunflower card to the following challenges:

Triple B Challenge --  always birds, blooms, or butterflies.  The have such a gorgeous yellow inspiration board this month.
NBUS Challenge #90 -- The Golden Sunflower stamp set is my never before used schtuff.

 

Thank you so much for stopping by.  Enjoy your day!

Jam Packed with Love for Penny Black Saturday Challenge

Hi everyone!  Popping in today with a reminder there's still time to play along in the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.  It's always anything goes, but our optional theme this month is "use a die".  I do have a die or two in my toybox, so I went that route.

 

I used a die for framing and to cut the sentiment, but the real cuties in this card are those two little mousers who've gotten into the jam jar.  Even though I don't want mice in my jam jar I can't help but find little furry creatures adorable and Penny Black's Homemade stamp set is jam packed with adorableness.  The sentiment in this case is from a Hero Arts set.

I watercolored with Tombow markers.  I added a pink wash around the mice, but when I saw the photo I was disappointed that it didn't show up.  Then I looked at the card again and realized it had all faded away!  What the heck?  Oh well, I left it as is and moved on.

The glossy dots are punched from designer paper, then coated with Diamond Glaze.  You know how I love doing that.  If you look closely you can see a bit of pattern in the larger dots.

That's it for me today.  This was great fun because you know how I love my Penny Black stamps.  It's guaranteed you'll love what my co-designer, Denise, and the PBSC team have created, and I really hope you can play along.  The more Penny Black, the merrier!

Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Homemade, Hero Arts Jam Packed sentiment  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, other white for card base, Crate Paper Pretty Party designer paper (years old)  Ink:  Ranger Archival Watering Can  Coloring:  Watercolor with Tombow markers  Other:  Die-namics Stitched Rectangle Frames, other rectangle for sentiment, 1/4" & 1/8" hole punches, JudiKins Diamond Glaze, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Double D Challenge: Pretty in Pink

Hello and welcome!

We're doing PINK this time around for the Double D Challenge.  Have a look at our inspiration board:

I was inspired to pull out my Spellbinders Truckin' through the Seasons die and make a Valentine.  It can't hurt to think ahead!

Everything here is Spellbinders except the sentiment.  I filled that truck so full of hearts and flowers you can barely see the cab.  There's Diamond Glaze on the tail lights, the flower centers, and the dotty accents.  The cute embossed background is Spellbinders Spring Burst 3D folder, out of the NBUS basket for the first time.

The months are going by so fast, aren't they?  Pretty soon it will be spring again, sheesh!  

I think you'll enjoy all the pretty in pink goodness the team has to share at Double D.  Come along and play with us!

Have a beautiful day!

Dies:  Spellbinders Truckin' through the Seasons, Whimsical Blooms, Classic Hearts, Scalloped Hearts, Big Scalloped Ovals, Classic Ovals  Other:  Spellbinders Spring Burst 3D embossing folder, Stickles Stardust glitter, JudiKins Diamond Glaze, 1/4" & 1/8" hole punches

Christmas in September -- Six Cards

Hello on a Saturday!

It's been a whirlwind of a week and whatever crafty time I had available was spent making the six Christmas cards I'm sharing today.  It all started with Jo's Christmas Kickstart Challenge #114 -- Reindeer Games.  That sounded like fun to me!

I chose my previously enjoyed Cottage Cutz Santa w/Reindeer Buddy.  You can use Santa and the reindeer together or separately.  I cut the whole works four times and proceeded firstly with the two joyfully cavorting reindeer pals.  This is the card I'm sending to Christmas Kickstart.

Card base embossed with TH Sizzix Lumber 3D EF, Hero Arts Wood Frame (spare part)

Each of the reindeer cards also feature Tim's Holtz Sizzix Big Tidings and various spare parts.  I was determined to use as many spare parts as possible, therefore all three designs are different.  I believe this next card is my favorite.

The yellow background, black Waffle Flower Dreamy Frame, and smallest white stars are all spare parts.

All the reindeer appear a little bug-eyed due to my heavy hand when applying white acrylic paint for the eye glint.  Oops.  Do they look like they've been drinking?

I managed to use a little more designer paper on the next card.

Poppystamps Wispy Pine Needle Corner and Spellbinders Blossom Nestabilities are both spare parts.

I finished up with three identical Santa cards.  Each Santa has a snowflake on his beard, strategically placed to cover a smudge.  Hmmm, maybe these are my favorites.  Santa is just such a fun and happy guy!

Penny Black Crystal Frame, Memory Box Pretty Presents,
Impression Obsession Ho Ho Ho and Small Snowflake Set

Total Christmas cards in the box:  29

Along with my cavorting reindeer I'm sending thanks to Jo and her elf, Loll, at Christmas Kickstart for prompting me to get a few more cards in the box.  Thank you, too, for visiting.  Have a happy weekend!

One More Daisy Card

Hi again!  Pardon me while I slip in a card I made way back in early August.  This was my third use of Spellbinders Fresh Picked Daisies and I think maybe my favorite.  I pulled a watercolor background from my stash and coordinated that with a Stampin' Up Marigold Morning card base, and Marigold Morning ink on the sentiment.  The daisies and leaves are Copic colored.

It's interesting how the leaves in this die set are very pretty and graceful, and the daisy flowers rather fun and funky.

I think I can put the daisies away for a while.

I'll leave you with the recipe, below, and a wish for a daisy kind of day!  Thank you!

Stamps:  Inside only  Paper:  Hammermill Premium 100 lb white, Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Stampin' Up Marigold Morning  Ink:  Marigold Morning, other forgotten for watercolor background  Coloring:  Copics for image, watercolor smooshing for background  Dies:  Spellbinders Fresh Picked Daisies, Creative Expressions Happy Birthday sentiment  Other:  Stampin' Up Subtle embossing folder for card base

Guest Designing with Penny Black Saturday Challenge

Hello there!  I'm honored to be guest designing alongside Denise (The Crafty Den) at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge this month.  The theme is always "anything goes", but with an optional prompt.  This month the option is "use a die".

 

I'm all for using a die!  In this case I colored the wisteria blooms and leaves from Penny Black's Wings of Joy set, then cut the curve with PB's Curved Stitch die.  From my already-made-up stash I plucked a Memory Box dragonfly which happened to be just the right colors.

I watercolored with a mix of Stampin' Up inks and Tombow markers.  Did the background first, then the blooms.  The leaves were stamped separately and hand cut to drape over the blooms and add texture without too much dimension which enables the card to be easily mailable with no extra postage.  Finished with a few sequins for a touch of garden magic.

The sentiment is from the Penny Black Serene Beliefs set.  I've been using this set a LOT since its summer release, mostly for the insides.  Every word is beautiful.

I hope you'll join us at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.  I just love seeing all the PB goodness by the talented team and those who play along.  Have a super day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Wings of Joy and Serene Beliefs  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico extra white 140 lb hot press watercolor, Hammermill Premium 100 lb white  Ink:  Memento Toffee Crunch for image, Stampin' Up Brocade Blue for sentiment  Coloring:  Watercolor with Stampin' Up reinkers and Tombow markers  Dies and Other:  Penny Black Curved Stitch, Memory Box Azure Dragonflies, sequins, Wink of Stella on dragonfly wings