Golden Autumn with Birds

Hello again!  I've come back to the mini art journal today.  This is the one made from envelopes -- 10 pages available to decorate, each page measuring approximately 3 1/2" x 5 1/4".  You can see the beginning of it here.  It's not a junk journal, not a diary, not a planner, nothing profound... it's just a flip-through collection of my own little mixed media artsy pieces created in much the same manner as a card.  I can hardly express how much I'm enjoying this genre.

I decided to dedicate this little journal to the beauty of nature's flora and fauna with the additional goal of using designer paper on each page.  Today's pages use an Amazon find via Pinterest ad -- Embossed Blades.  That's the title, but there is no brand name on the pack.  It's full of neutrals, blues, purples, all with different patterns of golden leaves.  I thought it would work nicely for an autumn theme.

I altered the paper with stamped script, leaf tiles, splatter, and sponged edges.  I would have been afraid of messing up the paper, but by channeling my inner Vicky P I think it turned out okay.  I brushed gold Lunar Paste here and there on the die cuts, and added gold self-adhesive trim to the inner edge of each page.

Cottage Cutz Spring Bird w/Vine, Tim Holtz Sizzix Funky Wreaths,
IO Small Leaf Set (dies), retired Power Poppy sentiment, Hero Arts oldie leaf tiles,
other retired script stamp

The purple page is done in the same manner.  It's not a spread, but the two pages coordinate.  This time I cut out some of the oldie HA leaf tiles and adhered them as well as stamping directly onto the page.  The bird die set comes with flowers which I switched out for leaves.  The two larger leaves are cut from designer paper with a gold metallic pattern.  I brushed autumn colors over them, and since the ink did not stick to the gold metallic pattern I was able to wipe them clean.  This page has more white splatters than the other.

Cottage Cutz Spring Potted Flowers w/Bird, Penny Black Wildwood twig frame

Most everything on these pages is from my 'previously enjoyed' stash, but it's a first-time use of the Embossed Blades designer paper and the Gold Rush Lunar Paste.  Therefore I'm sharing in Darnell's NBUS Challenge #91.

Lots of words today.  Thank you for indulging me.  Wishing you a wonderful day!

Christmas Grunge (?!)

I've never made a grungy Christmas card before.  However, this one happened while I was playing around with the blackout embossing technique inspired by Loll's CAS Mix Up Challenge.  I linked the challenge, but I'm not linking my card to it because you can see it's totally not clean and simple.

Naturally I had to goof around and try something different.  I started out the usual way -- emboss, then add color to the debossed areas.  In this case I used SU inks and blending brushes for that.  Then I thought I'd try pink for the background -- thoroughly rubbed SU Pink Pirouette directly from the pad to the paper.  It was pretty enough, but not exactly what I was looking for.  So out came SU's Basic Gray ink pad.  It's very dark, almost black, and as I was rubbing it over the pretty pink this grungy look came about and I decided to go with it.

It might be a little odd for Christmas, but I like it.  It would be a good art journal page because with art journals it doesn't have to please anybody but the maker.  I hoped to lighten the mood with the gold sentiment and snowflakes and a fine mist of Sheer Shimmer Sparkle spray.  As usual it's prettier in hand, but maybe the photo below gives you a hint of the shimmer that covers it.

Total Christmas cards in the box:  33

I'd like to share here:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #115 -- Gothic Christmas.  

Jo's guest designer, Carol, explained it thusly:

"Yes, [it's] a challenging theme but fun to do some thinking/crafting out-of-the-box, so to speak. Because Gothic Christmas doesn’t ‘have to’ equate to being sort of ‘creepy’ or gaudy or whatever people may ‘typically’ associate gothic as being."   Carol suggested we focus our ideas on "darker colours, ornate images, a degree of ‘elegance’."

I like that explanation!  They have provided an extra photo for inspiration.

 

The tree in the inspiration photo is galaxy themed and really very pretty.  Hmmmm... maybe I should have tried purple.  Next time.

Thanks for your patience with my experimentation.  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  None except inside sentiment, not shown  Paper:  Hammermill Premium 100 lb white, other black cardstock, mirror gold  Ink:  SU Pink Pirouette, Basic Gray, More Mustard, Old Olive  Other:  Tim Holtz for Sizzix Poinsettia 3D embossing folder, SU Subtle 3D EF used on card base, Cottage Cutz Peace on Earth sentiment die, Imagine Sheer Shimmer Sparkle spray

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!