Christmas Kitty

Hello friends!  Maybe you remember the "Bewitched" Halloween kitty I shared in a previous post.  I had mentioned I felt it could be used for occasions other than Halloween.  Well, here it is for Christmas and looking just as cute as ever and still a little bewildered.  I do love those eyes!

With the help of another die set I altered the witch's hat to turn it into a Santa's hat.  The hat trim and pom pom were coated with a white dimensional product and fine glitter.  Very sparkly!  The sentiment gives him a place to sit.  The card base with Christmas lights edging was sent in a goodie envelope by my blogging friend, Sue, who makes amazing things on her Silhouette.  I lined the inside with designer paper which shows as a border when the card is closed.

Total Christmas cards in the box:  32

That's not a very good showing for October, but the month is not over yet and maybe I can come up with more.  Fingers crossed.

Happily, I have time to get this into the Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge.  The inspiration board is full of Santas (not required), and my cat is wearing a Santa hat.

It was so nice of you to come visit today, and I hope to see you again real soon.  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  None except inside sentiment, not shown  Paper:  Neenah 110 lb white for die cuts, unknown for gifted card base, ancient Studio Calico Wonderland designer paper inside  Ink:  SU More Mustard to color cat  Coloring:  Ink blending with brush on cat, Copics for hat, eyes, and holly sprig  Other:  Spellbinders Bewitched (cat), Tinsel Time Sentiments, Art Anthology Blizzard Dimensional Crystal, powdered glitter

Double D Challenge: Wings

Hi friends!  Double D has a challenge starting today that gives you all kinds of opportunities -- Wings!  Have a look at our inspiration board:

I made a very simple card today using Freshly Made Sketch #751 which I loved and saved, thinking it would help me with my desire to get better at CAS.  I still love the sketch, but the urge to overwork it was strong.  I just don't have the CAS gene!

However, I'm so glad to have the cute little bee, the stitched dies, and the SSS Leaf Spin embossing folder in my toy box so I can play with them again any ol' time I choose.

The Double D team has some fabulous creations to share with you and I hope you'll share yours with us.  I know you've got some winged ideas just waiting to get onto a card or other project.

Happy crafting!

Stamps:  Colorado Craft Company Bee You with matching die  Paper:  Neenah 110 lb white for die cuts, Hammermill Premium 100 lb white, SU Marigold Morning, Panalisa Honey Flower designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Cottage Cutz Nested Wacky Rectangles, Lil' Inker Silly Stitched die set, Spellbinders Standard Circles, SU Subtle embossing folder (card base), SSS Leaf Spin embossing folder (background), Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Halloween Fun '26

Hi friends!  I thought I should get the last of this year's Halloween crafty creations posted before the day comes and goes.  These are the final two panels in a four-panel accordion "book".  I might continue on with it later and make an infinity book of sorts, but that remains to be seen.

These panels are ink blended with mostly Distress Oxides, plus stamping, die cutting, a little of this, a little of that.

The dies on this panel are all older from my stash, but still plenty fun.  Googly eyes on the spider, stamped sprinkles, stenciled dots floating around.  When it's make believe you can do whatever you want.

The next panel features this cute kitty cat from Spellbinders Bewitched set.  With a few changes, such as leaving the hat off, you can use the cat for all-year cheer and I plan to do just that.

Pictured below is the expanded view as displayed on one of my stamp room tables.  It will serve as Halloween decor in one of the front rooms.  I have to love that it's easy to store.

I'll leave you with a wish for a wonderful day in whichever way you choose to spend it.  Thank you so much for spending part of today with me!

Thanksgiving Rescue

Hi there!  I decided to make a Thanksgiving card with a not-yet-used stamp which I thought was so cute and would be fun to color.  Sure enough, it was fun!  However, something about the stamp got to bothering me as I was coloring... I don't know why I didn't think about it before:  The turkey is alive and plucked and laying in a roasting pan!

I know it's all for fun, but at that point I couldn't unsee it.  With the "grateful for you" sentiment in a speech bubble I hoped to convey the impression that the dog had rescued the turkey from... well... you know.  Now they're running off to enjoy the pie together.  Whatever.

I watercolored with some paints that came free in a kit, plus some Stampin' Up inks, and a Tombow marker or two.  Played with designer paper and an older embossing folder, added white splatters and a twine bow.

I'm sorry to be rushing off, but that's how my week has been.  Our son came to visit over the weekend, and I'll be out of town for a few days this week.  It's been busy, but fun.  Pictured below is Saturday's outdoor excursion with Sophie and Ridley:

We were in the dunes again.  There's so much room to run and explore.  My beautiful children.  I'll miss snuggling and loving on them for the next few days as they're staying home with Rich (😔).

I'll catch up with you later.  Till then... have a wonderful week!

Stamps:  Purple Onion Designs Thanksgiving is here, Impression Obsession Grateful for You  Paper:  Arches 140 lb cold press watercolor, Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, DCWV Fall Forest designer paper  Ink:  Ranger Archival Jet Black, various other  Coloring:  Watercolor  Other:  SU embossing folder (name forgotten), Impression Obsession Small Leaf Set, Cottage Cutz speech bubble from Telephone set, Scotch brand foam mounting tape to pop up sentiment

Double D Challenge, Oct 2026: Windows

Hello friends!  How about a "Windows" challenge today at Double D?  They make such a lovely home panel or focal point.  A beautiful way to start a card!  Here's some inspiration for you:

I have a few different window dies, and my Simon Says Stamp Window Trio hasn't been out to play quite often enough yet, so that's what I reached for.  It's looking out onto a beautiful fall day in the neighborhood thanks to La-La Land's In the City designer paper.

I've mixed up some older dies to add a potted plant and two cats to the card front.  SU's retired Subtle embossing folder gives a textured look to the "wall", and a sentiment from Power Poppy's retired Lavender set was hand cut and glued down to complete the scene.  The entire front panel is popped up for dimension.

The Double D team has more inspiration for you, and we'd love to see your creation in the player's gallery.  Come play with us!

Have a beautiful day!

Stamps:  Retired Power Poppy Lavender sentiment  Paper:  SU Going Gray, Basic Gray, Naturals White, Neenah 110 lb white for vine and pot, other black, La-La Land In the City designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black for sentiment, Apricot Appeal and Pumpkin pie for vine, Copics to color pot  Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Window Trio, Memory Box Blooming Vine, Tim Holtz Sizzix Cactus (pot), Impression Obsession Cats  Other:  SU Subtle embossing folder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Sunflower Card and Mini-Art Journal

Hello my friends!  I hope you're in the mood for lots of photos because I had a busy World Cardmaking Day, plus I wanted to try out my new iPhone 18 Pro Max.  Would you believe my old phone was an iPhone 6?  That's quite a jump!  The idea was to have it for when I'm out and about and not have to carry an extra camera (especially for the dogs).  Not sure I'm ready to switch for card photos, but I think it did a pretty good job.

Enough about that... let's see a card.  I have two first time uses here --- SSS Sunflower Blooms die set, and 3 Quarter Designs Sunflower Elixir designer paper.  I believe I got the designer paper on Amazon, along with a few other ultra-gorgeous paper pads which I hope to use soonish.  The sunflower and sentiment are ink blended with brushes, and I sponged the edges of the designer paper and the card base as well.  Three layers of petals, three layers of sentiment.

It's very simple, actually, but in a rather stately and mature kind of way.  A little bit vintage maybe.

My efforts Saturday mostly focused on my new interest, art journaling.  Let's be frank and call it an obsession.  Many evenings while Rich is playing solitaire on the computer I've immersed myself in art journaling videos (YouTube on the TV).  I've made two books and purchased one.  The book I'm sharing today is made from envelopes with the workable page space measuring approximately 3 1/2" x 5 1/4".  It ties closed with ribbon.

The video I learned from is here.  I used 5 x 7 kraft envelopes which someone found at a yard sale and gave to me.  It's a cute little book and the small pages are good for a beginner.

However, anyone who makes cards cannot be called a beginner.  Art journaling is simply a way to do more of what you love without hurrying, and the only one you're trying to please is YOU.  The following is art journaling done my way.

There's die cutting, stamping, painting splattering, and more of that gorgeous Sunflower Elixir paper.  It's probably retired.  This 6x6 pad has 12 single sided pages.  Heavyweight and semi-gloss.  You know I had to use the Golden Retriever first thing.  I stamped paw prints along the edges in Ranger Archival Watering Can in order to bring the dog and flowers more together.

The frame is a Taylored Expressions oldie.  I painted it with acrylic Distress Paint in Iced Spruce, and then brushed over it randomly with white acrylic paint.

The small flowers and foliage are from the SSS Country Basket Bouquet set.  I love how the added paw prints suggest the dog has been politely walking along the edge of the flower garden.  To finish, Distress Vintage Photo ink was sponged around the edges, and white acrylic paint splatters added over all.

Sharing at Darnell's NBUS Challenge #91 with my SSS Sunflower Blooms die set and 3 Quarter Designs Sunflower Elixir designer paper as my never before used schtuff.

That's all for today.  I think I'll just wrap this up and get busy with my day.  Much as I'd like to stay there's lots to be done outside my craft room.  I enjoyed catching up with your crafty creations this weekend, and I'm happy you stopped by to see me today.

Have a beautiful day!

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!