Nice Little Mice

Hi there, and welcome back!

It's been a few days since I posted.  Just busy with life stuff as well as making cards for later.  Today's cards are just for play.

I pulled another not-yet-used item from my use-next basket.  This time it's a stamp set, an older, but new-ish to me Penny Black set called Especially Micey.  I've now used every stamp in the set and I'm feeling good about that!

The first card is simple and clean with the "wish", the leafy vine, and the flower from my oldie stash.  I figured the Aster die could double as a dandelion if I colored it yellow.  The bee was in my spare parts and the designer paper is years old.  I'm trying to use it up, but it just goes on and on.

The second card uses more of that designer paper, along with one of my Stamping Bella Spec-tacular sentiments.  I added a fern die, and some Nuvo drops.

My first card is heading over to Simply Clean & Simple where the theme this month is "Birthday". 

Card #2 is going to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge where the theme is anything goes or "On the Move".  I made the second card for last month's PBSC to use patterned paper, but I was too late so I'll go with the anything goes option this month.

 

Thank you for visiting today.  I'll try not take so long before I pop in here again.  

Stamps:  Penny Black Especially Micey, Fiskars Make a Wish Quotes (1st card), Stamping Bella Spec-tacular sentiment (2nd card)  Paper:  Hammermill Premium 100 lb white (1st), Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb watercolor & SU Poppy Parade (2nd), old Memory Box Brioche designer paper (both cards)  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black & SU Soft Sky (1st), Ranger Archival Jet Black (2nd)  Coloring:  Copics (1st), Tombow markers and blender (2nd)  Dies:  Heartfelt Creations Delicate Asters, Poppystamps Diana Border, Memory Box Buzzing Bumblebees (1st card), Spellbinders Hemstitch Rectangles, MayJoyDIY Ferns (2nd card)  Other:  White acrylic paint (1st), Sugared Almond Nuvo Drops (2nd card)

Double D Challenge: Potpourri

Hello friends!  Double D Diane has a fun Potpourri board for you today -- anything goes that's somehow inspired by the board.  Have a look:

What's not to love?  I focused on the colorful candies in the lower right corner and was inspired to make some pink lemons.  That's where pink lemonade comes from, right?  I even made a pink lemonade butterfly.  Isn't it fun?

Well, it was fun for me.  The pretty lattice frame and butterfly have been with me for a long while, but the Sizzix sentiment and the Lawn Fawn Zesty Lemons are newish to me.  However, I confess the lemons have been in the not-yet-used basket for at least a year.  I adore everything in those baskets and I often wonder what takes me so long to get around to them, but it has occurred to me that anticipation is half the fun.  Can we agree?

All the coloring was done with inks and brushes.  So much crafty joy!

I know you'll enjoy the Double D team's inspired samples.  I can't wait to see yours!  Have a happy day!

Dies:  Lawn Fawn Zesty Lemons, Sizzix Happy Birthday to You, Marianne Designs Anja's Oval, Impression Obsession Medium Butterflies

Weekend Update

When you don't have grandkids... 

I hope you don't mind a few photos of my other obsession -- Sophie and Ridley.  They're the biggest part of my life these days.

Thank goodness for them.  I'd like to think they're living their best life because they sure make mine a whole lot better.

Love

💕

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