Cardinal

Hi everyone!  Life has been a little heavy handed lately, but I've enjoyed making cards when time allows.  Today I have a Christmas card which was inspired by the previous Peace on Earth challenge.  It was made in plenty of time but I just couldn't get it photographed and up on the blog.  I'm here now, though, and will share in the current POE challenge.  There is no resemblance to the inspiration board, but it's not required, thank goodness.  I'm grateful for any encouragement to get my Christmas cards done!

I do think the cardinal with leafy flourish is the prettiest thing!  It's one of my recently acquired Cottage Cutz dies -- retired and a bargain basement price.  I cannot resist the occasional shopping spree at The Scrapping Cottage.  It was cut from watercolor paper and colored with Tombow markers.  The Wispy Pine Needle Corner is an older Poppystamps die which I use a lot.  Cut from green cardstock and stippled with full strength white acrylic paint.  I use the bottled acrylic paint, the kind you can pour.

There's a wood grain theme throughout.  The ovals are some of my oldest Spellbinders dies, from back when they did mostly basic shapes.  Typical old meets new or in this case new-ish.  My nature and bird loving heart was happy when this card was finished.

I'll link to the Peace on Earth Challenge and Darnell's NBUS Challenge #51.  My Cardinal w/Flourish is a first time use.

 

Wishing you a beautiful day!

Stamps:  Lawn Fawn Winter Wavy Sayings  Paper:  Arches 140 lb hot press watercolor, 111 lb white woodgrain cardstock, black Bazzill, SU Garden Green for pine corners, Craft Consortium Wood Textures designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black for sentiment  Coloring:  Tombow markers  Dies:  Cottage Cutz Cardinal w/Flourish, Spellbinders Classic and Big Scalloped Ovals, Poppystamps Wispy Pine Needle Corner, Lawn Cuts Fancy Wavy Banners  Other:  2 mm red pearls, white acrylic paint, Scotch brand foam mounting tape to pop up sentiment banner

Double D Challenge: Lemonade

 

It's Double D time again, friends, and that means there's a mood board to inspire you to make something amazing!  Today Diane is asking for lemons or yellow as focus.  She has created a board that speaks to my yellow-loving heart.

I was feeling fruity so I went with the lemons.  I pulled out my Pinkfresh Lemons and Blueberries stamp set, thinking I was going to leave the dies alone this time and simply color.  As it happens there was one lone piece already colored and die cut.  I also had a long skinny white panel already embossed and set aside.  So I made a midi-slimline.

The tree came to mind as a whimsical way to frame this die cut lemon cluster.  It doesn't have to actually look like a lemon tree.  After all, this 2013 Memory Box die is called Tree of Wonder.  While we're talking oldies I'll mention the SU Word Window Punch which I've recently decided is useful and wonderful again.  I nested it on its companion punch, the name of which I cannot recall.

Something newer to me is the Spellbinders Seamless Floral embossing folder.  It's a pretty thing, but this piece was almost a throw away as it took a minute for me and the folder to get acquainted.

As always we'll have creative winners and a random prize winner.  The prize is so darn cute:

If you haven't already been there I highly recommend a visit to the Double D blog to see the team's samples.  They're pretty fabulous.

Take care and maybe I'll see you in the gallery!

Stamps:  Pinkfresh Lemons and Blueberries with matching dies  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb & 110 lb, Memory Box Parsley cardstock, CTMH Sunkiss Yellow, Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb watercolor  Ink:  Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Tombow markers  Other:  Memory Box Tree of Wonder die (2013), Spellbinders Seamless Floral Background embossing folder, SU punches for sentiment, gold pearls, Ranger Princess Gold embossing powder

Balloons and Candles

Hello friends!  One more card this week as I play along in the AAA Birthday Challenge #49 which is asking for balloons.  I thought AAA was only CAS.  I didn't realize they have a sister challenge just for birthdays, and any style card is welcome.  Not only that, but it's a month-long challenge.  My favorite kind, slow stamper that I am.  Apparently I was under my rock again, tsk tsk.

Now is the time to bring out my most recently received embossing folder from the Spellbinders 2D embossing folder club.  I'm a little behind on all my embossing folders from various makers, but catching up as I have more cards with other folders waiting in the wings.  I like this folder more than I thought I would.  I mean, it's kind of just right for a birthday celebration.  Some cake would be nice, I suppose, but today it's just balloons.

The balloons are my one and only set of balloon dies.  They're cut from low sparkle glitter paper.  Strings are colored with a light gray Copic to make them more noticeable against the white.  I left space at the top of my midi-slimline card (6 3/4" x 3 3/4") so I could blend inks to somewhat suggest the glow of the candles.  The card base is white shimmer paper, the other white is Neenah 80#.  The black sentiment is shimmered with Wink of Stella.  Stickles glitter glue on the candles.

The balloons are layered once.  The sentiment is three layers to make it pleasantly chunky.  Star sequins enhance the party atmosphere.

It seems like a lot of talk to explain a relatively simple card.

AAA Birthday:  Game #49 -- Balloons
Also NBUS Challenge #50 -- First time use of the candles embossing folder.

 

Thank you!  Till next week... wishing you a wonderful life!

Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, white shimmer cardstock, black, assorted glitter cardstock  Ink:  SU Summer Sun and Tangerine Tango  Coloring:  Copics  Dies:  Paper Smooches Happy Birthday, Impression Obsession Balloons  Other:  Spellbinders Candles for Every Birthday embossing folder, Queen & Co sequins, Wink of Stella, Stickles Stardust glitter glue

Magnolia Branch with Bird

Hello, friends!  The Triple B Challenge -- birds, blooms, or butterflies (or all three) -- inspired me to stop sitting on my Memory Box Curved Magnolia Branch and put it on a card.   It's another mix of old and new.  I do have some new bird dies, but today I used an older well-loved bird which I thought fit nicely with the branch.  I backed it up with some die cut wood grain and added a new-to-me Cottage Cutz sentiment.

I lightly stamped the retired SU French Script background on the card base, and SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds splatter stamp on the bird and sentiment.  All dies were cut from watercolor paper, loosely colored with Tombow markers, and then spritzed with water from a spray bottle.  It's a quick process and I rather like the way it blends the inks.  The dies are all layered to give dimension without being too bulky to mail in an envelope.  This is a one-postage-stamp card.

Finished with white acrylic paint splatters just because I like the way it looks.

I think that covers it.  I'm sticking to one challenge at a time, plus the NBUS challenge if applicable.  My head is too full of Life Things these days to try to keep track of more.

Triple B Challenge -- Birds, Blooms, and Butterflies
NBUS Challenge #50.  Never before used schtuff  -- Memory Box Curved Magnolia Branch, and Cottage Cutz Hello w/Shadow

I love spending mornings in my happy place and it's even better when my friends (you!) come to visit.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  SU French Script Background on card base, SU Itty Bitty Background splatter stamp on bird and sentiment  Paper:  Arches 140 lb hot press watercolor, grocer's kraft, SU Old Olive  Ink:  Memento Toffee Crunch and Rich Cocoa, SU Rose Red for splatter stamp on sentiment  Coloring:  Tombow markers spritzed with water after coloring, white acrylic paint for splatters  Dies:  Memory Box Curved Magnolia Branch, Memory Box Finnegan Fronds bird, Memory Box Wood Grain Planks, Cottage Cutz Hello w/Shadow

Playing Cards with Michele

Oh, what fun, my bloggie friend, Michele (I Card Everyone), invited me to play cards with her today!  That means she gives us a to-do list and we each make a card following those specifics.  Then share on the assigned day.  It's the next best thing to being there!

Today is World Bee Day and here's our to-do list:

1. Make a card that includes a honeybee.
2. Flowers are welcome, but not necessary.
3. Add a honeycomb, the color yellow, or black and yellow stripes.

I had just the thing:  A never-been-used Stampendous Bumblebee Happy stamp set.  Yes, they're bumblebees, but I did my best to make them appear as simply very plump honeybees.

They're well fed and a fully stocked honeycomb is evidence of that.  Surely they're not getting all their sustenance from those little white flowers?

All coloring was done with Copics.  I added Wink of Stella to their wings, and Stickles Stardust glitter glue to the flower centers.  Maybe you can see how their eyes are glossy little bubbles.  That's from an approximately 20 year old bottle of JudiKins Diamond Glaze.  The dies are oldies -- a flower border plus flowers from another die set which is super cute in its own right.

You probably know Michele -- sweet, funny, kind, and a talented card maker with a lean toward CAS.  I've been waiting quite a while to see her card.  I'm sure it's a sweet make, a honey of a card, a bee-u-tiful design...  Let's go look HERE.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by.  I hope you had fun, too!

Stamps:  Stampendous Bumblebee Happy  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, black, Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Stickles Stardust Glitter Glue, Wink of Stella, JudiKins Diamond Glaze, Joy Crafts Happy Border die, Spellbinders Homespun (flower & leaves)

Double D Challenge: Flowers

 

Hello friends!  Back with another Double D challenge.  In our previous challenge Diane called for fresh picked, but no flowers.  This time Darlene says it's all about FLOWERS.  That's the theme, and the pretty mood board is for inspiration if you'd like a spark:

I was tempted to color one of my poppy stamps, but decided instead to color the one remaining stamp from my Penny Black Ebullient set that I hadn't colored yet.  I let the orange of the poppies be my inspiration.

I colored with Tombow markers on hot press watercolor paper.  The flowers are markers only, but the subtle shading around them is watercolor.

The card was crafted with quite a few old-timey things from my stash -- SU Ticket Corner punch and Word Window punch, copper brads, and a die from the Spellbinders Floral Flourishes set.  It's quite old, but I still use it fairly often.  I don't think the card looks too dated but, you know, I'm pretty dated, myself, so I'm probably not a good judge.

The prize pictured below will go out to a random winner.  As always, we have creative winners, too.  Most importantly we just want you to have fun.

The team has flower cards galore on the Double D blog, so pop over and have a look.  I'm sure you've got some flowers you can play along with, too.

Have a good day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Ebullient, Altenew Wishing You sentiment  Paper:  Fabriano Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, SU So Saffron, Neenah white for card base, covered with Craft Consortium Wood Textures designer paper  Ink:  Palette Noir to stamp flowers, SU Chocolate Chip for sentiment  Coloring:  Tombow markers  Other:  Copper brads, old SU word window punch and corner notch punch, old Spellbinders Floral Flourishes die

Anemones From a Friend

Have I mentioned recently what a lucky girl I am?  Today's cards are thanks to my friend, Michele, who is very generous with her Pinkfresh washi tape.  I received a most lovely package from her and set to work play with very little delay.

Today it's all about the Anemones.  I used every single piece on two cards, including the insides and one envelope.  The Spellbinders Infinity Punch & Pierce Plate and Essential Stylish Ovals are some of my new favorite things, so I put them to play, too.  The first card is on an Aspen green base, chosen to match the green leaves.

The photo below shows more of the golden shine.  So pretty!

I switched colors for the next card, using a pretty lilac for the card base and dark blue for the sentiment.  The flowers are popped up on both cards.  There is more information in the recipe.

That's all for now.  I'm sharing the bounty with another friend and looking forward to playing again.  Thanks, Michele, and thank all of you for stopping in to visit!

Stamps:  Sentiments from Pinkfresh (1st card) and Power Poppy (2nd card)  Paper:  Pinkfresh Anemone washi tape on white, Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, CTMH Aspen Green, SU Pale Plum  Ink:  SU Handsome Hunter (sentiment 1st card), SU Not Quite Navy (sentiment 2nd card)  Dies:  Spellbinders Infinity Punch & Pierce Plate, Essential Stylish Ovals, and Scored and Pierced Rectangles, miscellaneous small rectangle for sentiment on 1st card  Other:  Gold self-adhesive half pearls, SU Subtle embossing folder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Embossed Poinsettias for Peace on Earth Challenge

Hello again!  I'm back to play in the Peace on Earth Challenge today.  These two cards were so quick and easy I made them while dinner was cooking.  Of course, dinner was in the oven for an hour and a half, but never mind that.

The first card is all for the inspiration board -- very pastel and feminine.  I generally make at least one pink Christmas card a year, so this will be it.  Not my go-to yuletide colors, but the POE board is so pretty I couldn't resist.  It's a good time to pull out this Tim Holtz Poinsettia embossing folder which I bought post Christmas 2022 with good intentions for 2023.

After embossing I used make up brushes to apply Distress Oxide inks -- Saltwater Taffy, Shabby Shutters, Wild Honey -- leaving a lot of white space to keep it pastel.

First time use of the Tim Holtz Holiday Words dies, too.  Lots of words in the set you can mix and match.  I cut the border strip and words from pink cardstock and brushed over them with Wink of Stella for a gentle shimmer.

Each to their own, but the next card is actually my favorite.  I smeared white pigment ink, pad to paper, on grocer's kraft.  The black is glossy cardstock.  The designer paper border is a glossy print on kraft by DCWV.  Something I've had for a long time.  It's called Foiled Elegance.

Two more Christmas cards in the box.  The total is now 10.  I need to do better.  How about you?

Scroll down to see the pretty Peace on Earth inspiration board that inspired me.  There's even more inspiration in the team cards.  Everything from cute to gorgeous.

Peace on Earth Challenge #39
NBUS Challenge #50

 

A summary of ingredients is below my signature.

This was fun!  I'm looking at the next challenge on my to-do list.  Hmmm... what shall it be?  Maybe no challenge at all.  See you again very soon!

Tim Holz Poinsettia 3D embossing folder and Holiday Words: Script
Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, CTMH Shell Pink, grocer's kraft, glossy black, DCWV Foiled Elegance designer paper  Ink:  Distress Oxide Saltwater Taffy, Shabby Shutters, Wild Honey, SU White pigment ink  Other:  Wink of Stella