A Tisket a Tasket A Bunny in a Basket

One more Easter card before the weekend.  I would have liked to do more, but I dallied too long.  Thankfully my bunnies will still be good for next year.  They're the only things I purchased exclusively for Easter, and I'll wager they could make the occasional appearance throughout the year as well.

This card is a mix of Simon Says Stamp and other brands.  The bunny and embossing folder are new to me from SSS.  The flowers are older, but a new-to-me find on Amazon when I was looking for something else not even craft related.  See, that's what happens.  Surely you understand.  They're by Sizzix and I like them a lot.  I thought about draping them across the top of the basket, but then remembered the Easter Eggs.  Now I have both!

About that basket -- I cut it in two shades of gray, but didn't like it for Easter so I smooshed all over with white pigment ink and embossed with some very old Stampin' Up Winter White embossing powder.  Sort of a creamy white.  You can see the powder gave it some texture, too, and now I think it's okay.

As for the embossing folder... well, it's a pretty thing that gives you all those flowers with a space in the middle to use however you like.  It provided just enough non-busy white space to highlight the bunny basket.  Also, you can see it's brushed with color.  I used pink and light orange, but it turned out disappointingly dark... so here comes that white ink pad again.  Smooshed all over and came up with it looking all soft and pretty.

Darnell has started a new month with her 85th NBUS Challenge (never before used schtuff), so I'm linking there with my SSS Fable Cute Bunny and Flower Frame 3D embossing folder, and my Sizzix Woodland Borders (flowers).

Thank you for your visit!  Happy Easter Weekend!

Stamps:  Retired Power Poppy sentiment  Paper:  Hammermill 100 lb premium white, two shades of gray, BasicGrey Sugar Rush designer paper  Ink:  Various Stampin' Up, Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Ink blending with brushes  Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Country Basket Bouquet (basket only), Fable Cute Bunny, Nested Eggs, Poppystamps Lovely Gift Bow, Sizzix Woodland Borders (flowers), Impression Obsession Grass  Other:  Simon Says Stamp Flower Frame 3D embossing folder, SU Winter White embossing powder (very old)

Easter is Coming

Yes, Easter is coming and I just now mailed my Easter cards.  I made only three this year, but had three left from last year.  I'm lagging behind, but it seems there's so much going on outside my craft room lately.

Today's card is one that made me very happy as I brought all the parts together.  I splurged on a few things from the SSS Beautiful Moments collection and this card represents several of them:  Country Basket Bouquet, Sweet Bunny, Double Loop Bow, Leaf Spin 3D embossing folder.  The tag and sentiment are from my toybox.

I'm delighted with all my new toys but, ohhhh, that Leaf Spin embossing folder... it does speak to my leaf-loving heart!  It made the prettiest background for the basket.  Every bit of color comes from ink blending with brushes.  The card is 4 1/2" x 6".  That little bit extra allows a lot more play.

Linking up with Darnell's NBUS Challenge #85.  Everything except the tag and sentiment is never before used schtuff.

I have little time to linger today as there are many other things that need doing, but I'll be back with one more Easter card shortly.

Enjoy your day, and happy upcoming Easter!

Stamps:  Retired Power Poppy sentiment  Paper:  Hammermill 110 lb premium white, gray scrap  Ink:  various Stampin' Up  Coloring:  Ink blending with brushes  Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Country Basket Bouquet, Sweet Bunny, Double Loop Bow, Poppystamps Stitched Main Street Tags  Other:  Simon Says Stamp Leaf Spin 3D embossing folder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Double D Challenge: Humor

Hi there!  At the Double D Challenge today Diane is asking to see our creations which evoke a grin, a giggle, a chuckle, a chortle, a smile, a snicker... we could all use a good laugh any day of the week.

Here's a little bit of inspiration...

... and a prize for a random winner:

The team votes for creative winners.  There's always more information on the challenge blog.

**********

Although I found I have quite a few stamps that would fall into the humorous category I immediately thought of this old woodblock stamp called Happy Couple.  It's seen a fair amount of ink in its day and still going strong.  The sentiment is from Rubbernecker.

The inside sentiment is "Happy new year".  I rarely send new year's cards because I've generally just finished making and mailing 60-80 Christmas cards, but in 2027 I'll be mailing at least one new year's greeting.

I brought in stars and streamers and paper that brings to mind fireworks and late night partying -- all oldies from the toybox, save for the Waffle Flower Dreamy Frame which is fresh from the not-yet-used basket.  The picture below shows the shimmer and glitter from Wink of Stella and Stickles glitter glue.  In real life the effect is somewhere between the first picture and the second.

Come have a good time with us at Double D!  The team is sharing cards that are sure to bring forth a hee-haw, a whoop, a guffaw, or a titter.  Let's fill the gallery with laughter!

Have a happy day!

Stamps:  American Art Stamp Happy Couple, Rubbernecker Slow Down  Paper:  Hammermill 100 lb premium white, black card base and streamer, SU Rose Red stars and streamer, BasicGrey Euphoria designer paper (very old)  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics for minimal coloring  Other:  Waffle Flower Dreamy Frame die, Memory Box Banner Parade (2015), Wink of Stella, Stickles Diamond and Black Diamond glitter glue

Snail Mail and Mouse Nap

Hi there!  A while back I pulled out another of my self-made card kits and started coloring, but then I got distracted by challenges and these cards, though finished and photographed, were not yet posted.  Today is their day.

This kit features Colorado Craft Company stamps by Kris Lauren.  Very cute!  The set I used today is called This is the Life, gifted to me maybe a year ago.  I always question my sanity when I realize how long I've left something waiting in the basket.

The snail, mushroom, grass, ladybug, and sentiment are all separate stamps.  I stamped the snail, masked it, and then stamped the mushroom and all the rest.  There is quite a lot of fanciful detail in the snail shell.  Coloring is with Copics.

Next up is the little mouse.  Again with the masking and adding in other stamps from the set.  The sketch is FMS #707 which I loved a lot for using designer paper.  I made a point of adding some Cottage Cutz flowers to each card as they were also not yet used, though much newer to me than the stamp set.

NBUS Challenge #84 -- My never before used schtuff is the CCC This is the Life stamp set and Cottage Cutz Flowers.

Gosh, this was fun!  You might think I'm making good progress on my NBUS and maybe I am, but there's still so much!  Not the least of it is gifts from my local soul sister who showers me at birthdays and Christmas, and sometimes in between.  We keep on keeping on.  It's a sisterhood.

Thanks for stopping by.  You know I love it when you do!

Stamps:  Colorado Craft Company This is the Life, Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, colored cardstock scraps, Brutus Monroe Autumn Tapestries designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Cottage Cutz Flowers

Seize the Birthday Challenge -- Add a Tag

Hi there!  It's my pleasure to be guest designing with the amazing team at Seize the Birthday for their current challenge.

The topping for this go around is "Add a Tag", but anything goes as long as it's a birthday theme.  I love to play the toppings!

Looks like I got my seasons mixed up but, hey, the tag was already embossed and waiting for me to color it.  I chose some Mintay Golden Days designer paper which was gifted to me at Christmastime for one of my favorite go-to layouts, in this case using Spellbinders Hemstitch Rectangles.

The tag is from the Spellbinders Mushrooms from Me to You 3D cut and emboss folder.  The folder makes three arched panels at once.  I used one last fall, and still have a mid-sized panel yet to design with.  Fall seems such a short card-making season with Christmas so close on its heels, so it's probably not a bad idea for me to occasionally enjoy it ahead of time.

The tag is cut from watercolor paper and colored with Tombow markers and blender.  The enamel dots are 1/4" and 1/8" burgundy cardstock coated with Diamond Glaze.

We all need birthday cards, and tags are fun, so play along with us at Seize the Birthday and enjoy yourself!  Thanks so much for your time today.  Take care!

Stamps:  Retired Stampin' Up birthday greeting  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico 140 lb hot press watercolor, Hammermill 100 lb premium white, scrap burgundy, Mintay Golden Days designer paper  Ink:  Retired SU Baroque Burgundy  Coloring:  Tombow markers and blender  Other:  Spellbinders Mushrooms from Me to You 3D cut and emboss folder, Spellbinders Hemstitch Rectangles, 1/4" & 1/8" hole punches for dots, burgundy string, rectangle die from stash (for sentiment), JudiKins Diamond Glaze

Micey Nice

Hello and welcome to Monday!

Big surprise, more never-been-used crafty goodies came out to play today.  At Can You Handle the Pressure the optional theme is sewing or sewing related, and wouldn't you know I just happened to have a brand new-to-me Stitching Sampler embossing folder from SSS, and a nearly vintage but never-been-used Penny Black Especially Micey stamp set.  I think they were just waiting for each other!

As always, the supporting players get used over and over again, and so everything else on the card has been with me for a good long while.

I used Tombow markers and homemade blender solution for coloring.  It looks like watercolor because the blank Copic marker filled with solution is similar to using a water brush.  The recipe and a picture can be found on this post.

Circle punches, designer paper layered on cardstock, and glossy glaze made the buttons.  Much more mail friendly than real buttons.

You know I love my Penny Black critters.  There's a lot more yet to use in this set so it's still in the PB NBUS basket.

Challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge -- Anything goes or Four-legged Friends

Can You Handle the Pressure -- Anything goes with a twist of sewing or sewing related.
NBUS Challenge #84 -- My never before used schtuff is the Penny Black Especially Micey stamp set, and the Simon Says Stamp Stitching Sampler 3D embossing folder.

 

I'm so glad you dropped in.  Have a mice day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Especially Micey  Paper:  Fabriano Extra White 140 lb watercolor, Hammermill 100 lb premium white, pink Bazzill base, designer paper from The Vast Hoard for buttons  Ink:  Ranger Archival Jet Black, Ranger distress Antique Linen  Coloring:  Tombow markers and blender  Other:  Memory Box Cross Stitched Frame Borders, Precious Marieke Flower Border, SSS Stitching Sampler 3D embossing folder, 3/4", 1/2", 1/4" circle punches for faux buttons, Judikins Diamond Glaze, linen thread

Double D Challenge: Easter/Church/Cross

Hi friends!  It's time for another Double D challenge.  You know Easter is not that far away, so it's part of our theme today, but the challenge -- Easter/Church/Cross -- gives you other options if you're not doing Easter cards.  Here's our inspiration board:

The DDs are offering this prize to a random winner.  Creative favorites are by team vote.

It was great fun making my first Easter card of the year!  I must apologize if the white appears a little too blinding in the photo.  The sun is a welcome sight coming through my craft room window so I'll not complain.  The colors are actually true, and there is a lot of white, and I'm really happy with the cuteness factor of the card.   

All the dies are Cottage Cutz.  The embossing folder is Spellbinders.  I thought at first the embossed pattern might be too big for the petite image, but in the end I love it.  I'm hopelessly addicted to 3D embossing folders and happy to have this one from a past Warehouse Sale making its debut today, fresh from the NBUS basket.

I will share in Darnell's NBUS Challenge #84 with my never before used Spellbinders Stylized Floral 3D embossing folder.

I hope you can find time to play along with our Easter/Church/Cross theme at Double D.  The team has some awesome inspiration for you!

It was so nice of you to stop by.  Take care and enjoy your day!

Stamps:  None except inside  Paper:  Hammermill 100 lb premium white, BasicGrey Sugar Rush designer paper  Ink:  Various Stampin' Up  Coloring:  Ink blending with brushes  Dies:  Cottage Cutz Just Hatched Chick, Happy Easter Phrase, Nested Wacky Stitched Rectangle Frames  Other:  Spellbinders Stylized Floral 3D embossing folder, Stickles Stardust glitter glue, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Flowers and Fronds

Hello friends!

I made a mostly green card for two challenges today.  This one was quick seeing as how the SSS Feathery Fronds background was already embossed and brushed with green ink.  I'd accidently smudged a spot on the very edge of the card and that's how the sentiment flag came to be there.  With that simple design being my basic layout it needed some flowers against the fronds, and a birthday sentiment for Seize the Birthday, and I found both, plus the butterfly, in my SSS Butterfly Blooms stamp set.  It's only been in the not-yet-used basket for about a year, I believe.  It's still there because I won't put it away until I've used every flower and butterfly.

Say it with me now, "What was I waiting for?!"  The flowers in this stamp set are all so pretty and very easy to color.  I did this with a few simple strokes of Tombow markers, not aiming for perfection, but a loose and simple look.  The flowers and butterfly are hand cut.

As for the challenges:

1. I cannot resist the Triple B Challenge -- Birds, blooms, butterflies.  They always have such a beautiful inspiration board.
2. Seize the Birthday is asking to see green as your main color.  Optional anything goes.
3. Of course, I have to share in Darnell's NBUS Challenge #84 again.  My never before used schtuff today is the Simon Says Stamp Feathery Fronds 3D embossing folder (brand new) and the Butterfly Blooms stamp set.

 

That's all for today!  I'm glad you dropped in.  Take care and have a perfect day!

Stamps:  SSS Butterfly Blooms  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb watercolor, Hammermill Premium 100 lb white, green Bazzill  Ink:  Ranger Archival Jet Black, Stampin' Up Certainly Celery  Coloring:  Tombow markers  Other:  Sue Wilson Pierced Flags, Simon Says Stamp Feather Fronds 3D embossing folder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape