Playing Along with the Colors of The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  I've been meaning to get my Twinkling H20's out for some watercoloring.  Over time they've become one of my favorite watercolor mediums.  Those little pots of paint are full of some very rich and gorgeous colors!  I think they're off the market now, but there are other types of shimmer and glimmer paints that are pretty amazing.

I stamped Penny Black's Enchantingly in Ranger Archival Pale Ochre on Arches cold press watercolor paper.  Painted first, then cut with the matching die.  The designer paper is one of my newer pads by Brutus Monroe called Love Letters.  The whole pad is scripty, vintage, papery, double sided, semi-gloss, awesome, and perfect for backgrounds.  There is nothing about love apparent in the script so it can be used for any occasion.

The small envelope was made with my envelope punch board, and I inserted a note made with an old, neglected SU notepaper edge punch.  I drew lines with a pencil and stamped with Penny Black's Note Builder.

The colors were decided by The Flower Challenge.  I love this combo!  Even the paper fits the colors.

I can never capture the shimmer of Twinks in a photograph, but you can see the graininess of the mica flakes in the photo below.  I know you can imagine how it looks and feels in hand.

In addition to The Flower Challenge I would also like to share in two more challenges:

The Neglected Stuff Challenge -- Darlene and Diane encourage us to play with something we haven't touched in months.  It's probably been years since I've used my notebook punch.
NBUS Challenge #76 -- My never before used schtuff is the Penny Black Enchantingly stamp.

  

I'm so glad you could stop and visit when there's so much summertime activity to be enjoyed.  I'm heading out to the garden with my little helper, Sophie, as soon as I finish here.  It's looking lovely out there!  Have a beautiful day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Enchantingly, Note Builder  Paper:  Arches 140 lb cold press watercolor, Cougar Natural, Brutus Monroe Love Letters designer paper  Ink:  Ranger Archival Pale Ochre, Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Creamy Caramel  Coloring:  Watercolor with Twinkling H20's  Other:  Envelope Punch Board, notepaper punch, sequins

Christmas in July 2025

Hi there!  If you'll bear with me...  I was busy playing with something else entirely when along came July and I realized I have only seven cards made for this year.  Actually, it's more than I thought I had, but I need a lot more!

So here are three today, all Cottage Cutz Santas from my never-been-used stash.  For the most part I'll let the pictures tell their own stories.  I've used a lot of retired supplies, old goodies that still provide a lot of fun.

First we have Santa hanging on a tree branch.  A sleigh accident perhaps? 

Cottage Cutz Santa w/Branch and Happy Ho Ho Ho
Spellbinders Pinecones and Berries 3D embossing folder

Keeping it simple, trying not to overthink it.  A frame and an embossed panel can take a card design a long way.

Cottage Cutz Jolly Santa Claus
Darice Star Border embossing folder

The last card has a simple silhouette Santa with a landscape frame and designer paper.  The few die cut snowflakes were brushed with Stampin' Up Buckaroo Blue ink.  It might be the first time I've used that pad and it's several years old.  The designer paper is a Simple Stories freebie that came with one of my Scrapbook.com orders.

 

Cottage Cutz Santa's Naughty/Nice List
Memory Box Lamplight Tree Collage and Holiday Wishes sentiment w/die
Impression Obsession Small Snowflake Set

I always have such fun with my Cottage Cutz dies, and I'm sure that's amplified by their low, low sale prices.  They haven't had a new release in a LONG time and I cannot find any information regarding that.

I'll be sharing in two challenges:

Peace on Earth #91 -- Anything goes or be inspired by the fabulous mood board.
NBUS #76 -- Darnell encourages us to use our 'never been used schtuff'.  Each of my Cottage Cutz Santas are fresh out of the package.

 

Thank you for coming to visit!  Have a happy day!

Penny Black Saturday Challenge: Anything Goes or On the Water

Oh, happy day, I'm honored to be this month's guest designer at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge!

 

The theme is always "anything goes", with this month's option being "on the water".  I had to think about that one, but then I remembered the skateboarding kitty from the Happy Times set... so I cut off the wheels and made him a surfer kitty.  Too much fun!

I also used Penny Black Super Day for the sentiment, and the Background Basics stencil set for help with the background.  I first placed a circle positive mask and brushed on the sky, then placed the negative of that same circle and filled in the sun.

The waves and white splash are courtesy of Memory box.  A few gems were added to enhance the idea of splashes or bubbles, and I coated his cool shades with Diamond Glaze.

This is going to be my Rich's birthday card in October.  He was a southern California surfer dude way back when.  Then he moved to Oregon and became a fishing dude.  He's still that guy at heart, but these days it's only from his armchair.

You know there are some awesome samples on the PBSC blog, so treat yourself to a look-see.  Hope you can play along!  Have a super day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Happy Times and Super Day  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 110 lb  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Cool Caribbean, Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie  Coloring:  Copics and ink blending  Other:  Memory Box Waves 3D embossing folder, MB Big Splash Border, Penny Black Background Basics stencil set, rhinestones, JudiKins Diamond Glaze

Double D Challenge: Flower Pots

Hi, there!  We have another Double D challenge for you today -- Flower Pots.  Look at the pretty inspiration board below.  I love it!

A cool prize will be awarded to a random winner.  Creative favorites are voted on by the team.

I was tempted to stamp an oldie for this one, but the NBUS baskets are reaching critical mass and progress must be made so I can file away some of these stamps, dies, and embossing folders.  I'm embarrassed to say how many not-yet-used Penny Black stamps I have.  Many of them were oldies when I bought them, but today's Perch stamp is from this year.

It's rather large for an A2 card, I think, but I'll have another go at it soon and try something different.  I watercolored with Gansai Tambi paints, Stampin' Up inks, and Tombow markers.  It's a crazy mix, but I couldn't seem to get happy with any single medium.

I'm off to see what kind of trouble I can get into elsewhere now, but first I would like to encourage you to check out the team's cards at Double D.  They have some very pretty flower pot cards!

Thank you for visiting today!

Sprinkle & Grow

Hi there!  Another card today -- a messy bouquet in a watering can.  I sure struggled with this one.  Ordinarily I cut everything from 110 lb white and then add color, but I thought this time I'd try and use up colored CS scraps.  Turns out it wasn't so easy with these skinny little stems and lighter weight cardstock.  Then trying to tuck them into the watering can... geez.  I'm sure I somehow made it more difficult than it needed to be, but I do have a knack for that.

Ultimately I guess it's kind of cute (?).  I won't go on about how I ended up with these colors and papers.  Cards have a mind of their own sometimes, don't they?  You go one way, they go the other.  Or is it just me?

The colored scraps are all from my sorted bags of Bazzill bits.  I added texture to the white panels with two different embossing folders.  The flowers are touched with Diamond Stickles which doesn't show up well in the photo, but you  can see all the texture from the cardstock and embossing in the photo below.

No challenges today.  Just playing a little before rushing off to do a bazillion other things.  Hope you have a happy day!

Stamps:  Gerda Steiner All Cats  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, scraps of textured cardstock, Forever Friends Kraft Notes designer paper (old)  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black for sentiment  Dies:  Spellbinders Sprinkle & Grow, Simon Says Stamp Pretty Bows, Memory Box Cross Stitched Frame Borders  Other:  Diamond Stickles, Sizzix Flowers EF, SU Subtle EF

Sew Much Fun!

Hello again!  I hope you all are ready for a new week and whatever it may bring.  Who knows what's around the corner, but I'm in my happy place and there's nothing but good cheer up in here.

Today's card, for instance... I can't help but smile!  These industrious little Penny Black meeces hopped into my cart earlier this year and they've been awaiting their turn ever since.  Then along came the Penny Black Saturday Challenge where the optional theme is "stitching".  Just the nudge I needed!

My stitching is all faux, but there's a whole lot of it going on here -- cross stitch, straight stitch, mouse stitch... even the designer paper in the background is stitched up patchwork.  I colored with Copics, and if you look closely you can see the pattern in the fabric the mice are working on.  That was stamped with an old Stampin' Up Background Basics set.

Not that I'm old or anything (ahem), but infinite years ago I had a sewing machine like this.  It was built into a cabinet and it raised up when you opened the lid.  You know the type.  I gave it to my sister-in-law when I "upgraded" to a new fangled machine which was not nearly as beautiful.  The machine I learned to sew on in high school looked like this, also in a cabinet, but operated by pressing your knee against a lever.  Vintage memories, sheesh!

Three challenges today:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge -- Anything goes, optional "stitching"
Love those Pretty Papers -- Anything goes, optional "wedding".
NBUS Challenge #75 -- Never before used schtuff.  Penny Black Sew Much Fun stamp is newish to me and used for the first time today.

  

Thanks for visiting today and I'll see you again soon!

Stamps:  Penny Black Sew Much Fun, Stampin' Up Background Basics  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, SU Blue Bayou, Forever Friends Kraft Notes designer paper (years old)  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Sequins, twine, Penny Back Background Basics stencil, Memory Box Cross Stitched Frame Borders, Poppystamps Stitched Main Street Tags, Taylored Expressions Ric Rac Borders

Butterflies -- Two Cards, Three Challenges

Hi, friends!  I'm happy to be back near the end of a busy week which didn't allow much time in my craft room.  I feel much better having finished these two clean and simple cards.

When I saw the Can You Handle the Pressure Challenge with the optional twist of butterflies I immediately pulled out one of my oldest embossing folders.  It's still such a pretty thing!

Firstly, I embossed, then watercolored with Stampin' Up Cameo Coral ink on hot press watercolor paper.  The fine lines and dots were colored with a Copic marker.  Also, the insides of the butterflies' wings were done with gray Copics which gives them that soft, almost vellum-like appearance.  All the dots were sparkled with Stickles Diamond glitter glue.

I somehow managed to smudge the sentiment with my fingers and then transferred more smudges here and there on the card front.  Hence, four extra dots were punched and added.  Can you spot them?

Darice Butterflies in Corner embossing folder
Altenew Wishing You sentiment

I'll be sending the first card to the following challenges:

Can You Handle the Pressure? -- Anything goes with an embossing folder, or optional twist of butterflies.
Neglected Stuff -- It's been years since I used this Butterflies in Corner embossing folder.

 

Card #2 was not destined to happen until I saw Michele's sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  I always love their sketches, but a one week challenge is difficult for me to manage unless all the stars line up just right.  In this case I had an extra embossed panel of Cameo Coral which I'd cut down for the spare parts drawer.

Memory Box Wooden Alpha
Tim Holtz Sizzix Snowfall embossing folder

I flipped the sketch to the opposite side, and my butterfly curve is a border rather than a free-standing element, but I hope it's still okay.  I brought the Snowfall embossing in from the side which looks very cool in real, but sorry it doesn't show up more in the picture.

Here's the challenge link and the sketch:

Freshly Made Sketches #691

Well, this was fun!  I appreciate how challenges bring out the old familiars from my toybox.  Thanks, everyone!  Have a great weekend!

Double D Challenge: Let's Go to the Beach!

Hi!  How about a trip to the beach?  Darlene is inviting us to share our beach-themed cards or projects for the Double D Challenge that kicks off today.  She's provided a lot of inspiration to get us started:

There's a prize for a random winner.  Creative winners are voted on by the team.

I've made two cards.  The first brings to mind the cooler temperatures of our Pacific Northwest beaches.  I embossed and sanded a blue panel, then added a few bits and pieces from my die collection, all older, some probably retired.  They're listed further down.  I'm especially fond of the fishing net which doesn't get many opportunities to play.  The patterned frame was in my spare parts drawer.  The sandy beach is torn paper.

Next is a tropical beach.  The beautiful Mintay paper was not to be resisted, though I've had it for quite a while and barely used it.  When I pulled out the pad I found the shell pattern with a circle already cut on the edge, so I used it to frame another piece, then added a woodgrain border.  I brushed the tropical fronds with Stampin' Up inks Barely Banana and Sage Shadow.

I'm serious about using my designer paper more often.  It can feel like cheating, but I put a lot of thought into this design and thoroughly enjoyed the process.

10 die sets -- Spellbinders Standard Circles Large & Small, Amy Design Fishing Net, MFT Die-namics Wild Greenery, Impression Obsession Grass Border, Grass, and Mini-Shell Set, Memory Box Wrapped Stitched Frames, Cottage Cutz Seagulls in Flight, Sue Wilson (Creative Expressions) Life's a Beach
1 embossing folder -- Tim Holtz Sizzix Lumber 3D
1 paper pad -- Mintay Paradise
2 stamp sets (for inside sentiments, not shown)

My teamies at Double D have shared all manner of beach cards for inspiration.  I hope you'll come along and have some beachy fun with us!

Enjoy your day!