Fall Birthday

I'm back again with another birthday card.  This one is for a guy friend whose birthday is at the end of September.  I thought it was a good time for a fall card.  I did no coloring whatsoever, but I used a lot of ink.  All the leaves were cut from saffron cardstock and ink sponged on using a sponge dauber.  Just going for a manly look.

 

 

 

 

The "happy birthday" was die cut three times and layered for dimension.  The top layer is 110 lb Neenah white, which I like for die cuts because of its thickness.  I coated the Neenah with Versamark ink and embossed with an old favorite Vintage Verdigris embossing powder.  Under that is a layer of SU! Glorious Green, and then I shadowed with a copper satin metallic cardstock.

 

 

 

 

I've made a list and I'm checking it twice for my card making needs so I can get ahead and start on Halloween and Thanksgiving and Christmas cards.  This is a busy card making time of year!  I'll see you again on Friday.  Take care!

 

 

Stamps:  None  Paper:  Naturals Ivory (card base), SU! So Saffron and Really Rust (leaf and branch die cuts), Neenah 110 lb white, SU! Glorious Green, copper satin metallic (HB die cut), Elizabeth Craft Through the Lens Wood Series designer paper  Ink:  Leaves -- SU! So Saffron, Old Olive, Ruby Red, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa.  Versamark for HB die cut  Accessories:  Vintage Verdigris embossing powder  Dies:  Paper Smooches Happy Birthday and Foliage 1, Taylored Expressions Mega Leaves, Dee's Distinctively Sm. Pair of Leaves, Memory Box Hayden Twigs

Hello, Sunshine!

Hello, and welcome to another week on the blog!  I hope your weekend left you feeling refreshed.  It always seemed to me completely undone within the first hour at work Monday morning, but that was probably just my particular job.  It's behind me now and I'm so glad for that!

 

Today I'm sharing my maiden efforts with a brand new set of Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolor paints.  Yes, I treated myself.  Told my hubby they're my first ever grown up watercolors.  I can tell you I'm going to love these paints.  Smooth, easy coverage with as little or as much water as needed, and very fun to layer color on color.  I'm a novice with them, but I plan to get a lot of practice.

 

 

 

 

I started with Power Poppy's new clear stamp set, In Praise of Sunflowers.  Stamped the image in Hero Arts Memories Sand ink.  I've had several of these inks for years and never realized until this weekend that they're waterproof and, therefore, can be used with watercolors.  The color I used is quite visible when stamped, but it did a good job of disappearing under the paints, so I got a no-line look without really expecting it.

 

I love all the sentiments you can mix and match with this stamp set.  I put together the "Hello, sunshine" on the front, and pictured below is the sentiment combo I chose for the inside.  This is going to be a September birthday card, so I'll hand write my own "happy birthday".

 

 

 

 

I'll keep working with these paints until I get a better feel for them.  Try a different type of image, a different outline color.

 

 

 

I used the burlap ribbon today specifically so I could play along in the "Pretty Pretty Ribbon" challenge at The Sisterhood of Crafters.  I have miles and miles of ribbon which I'm not using enough lately but, honestly, I'm trying.

 

I'll be back on Wednesday so I hope to see you then.  Have a great day!

 

 

Stamps:  Power Poppy In Praise of Sunflowers  Paper:  140 lb hot press watercolor, SU! Cherry Cobbler and Summer Sun, old  Daisy D's designer paper  Ink:  Hero Arts Memories Sand, Versafine Onyx Black  Coloring:  Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolor paints  Accessories:  Burlap ribbon, Poppystamps Clothesline Hearts, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Birthday Giraffe

Hello, there!  I had to put the late summer/early fall cards on hold long enough to make a cutie pie birthday card for my cutie pie neighbor girl who is having her first birthday.  I've been saving this Bugaboo Balloon Giraffe just special for her.

 

 

 

I made it very simple, thinking the image enough on its own.  The sentiment is from SU!'s On Your Birthday set.  You can put any number in the parentheses.  I didn't trust my own handwriting so I used a number stamp instead, and even that turned out crooked.  So I stamped again and punched with a 1/2" circle punch.  There's Stickles glitter on the clouds and Wink of Stella shimmer on the balloons.

 

If all goes well, Wally is supposed to get his staples out today.  His incision looks good to me -- nicely healed and with no redness or swelling -- but our local vet will be the one to judge.  Fingers crossed!  I know Wally would love to help Rich wash the car next time.  It's one of his greatest pleasures, but he missed out last time because he couldn't get his incision wet.  Poor guy has so many restrictions on him for the next several weeks, we'd like to give him this small happiness.

 

Just for fun I'm linking up to a couple of challenges today:

 

Little Red Wagon Challenge #356 -- Happy Birthday

Shopping Our Stash #266 -- Stand Up and be Counted (use numbers)

 

 

Have a great weekend!

 

 

Stamps:  Bugaboo Balloon Giraffe, SU! On Your Birthday  Paper:  X-Press It Blending Card (image panel), Neenah Classic Crest Solar White (card base)  Ink:  Printer, Versafine Onyx Black, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Stickles Stardust glitter, Wink of Stella, 1/2" circle punch, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

 

Starbuck's Fall

I'm jumping ahead to the next season with this card, but I just had to use this sentiment stamp, which was a craft store impulse buy clear back in the spring.  The card was so fun and easy and quick, as in minutes quick.  Well, maybe closer to 60 minutes, but that's because I changed my mind a time or two along the way.  You know how that goes.

 

 

The Funny Bones sentiment comes complete with pumpkins and I thought how nice it would be to have a coffee die to go with this, but then I remembered this old A Muse coffee stamp.  They're a fun combo.

 

The background, which I cut with a Memory Box Autumn Border die, was done with inks blended on watercolor paper.  I forgot to flick some splatters on before I stitched it all together, so I went over it later with my SU! Itty Bitty Backgrounds splatter stamp.  Old combined with new.  There are just certain stamps that never wear out their welcome.

 

I'll be sending this to a friend in early fall with a, you guessed it, Starbucks coffee card.

 

You have a great day and I'll be back here again soon.  Take care!

 

 

Stamps:  Funny Bones Starbucks sentiment, A Muse Three Cups, SU! Itty Bitty Backgrounds splatters  Paper:  Vanilla cardstock, 90 lb hot press watercolor, Snap Wood & Notebook Basics designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Really Rust, Old Olive, So Saffron, Close to Cocoa, Copic markers for coloring  Accessories:  Linen thread, Impression Obsession Small Leaf Set, Memory Box Autumn Border

Yellow Roses

Yay!  I finally finished a card I stared prior to Wally's surgery!  Actually, I finished it last Wednesday, but I'm not always Johnny on the Spot about getting things photographed and written up.  Wally's doing much better now.  Moving around more and spending time outside with us.  One more week and his staples can come out if his incision is healed enough.  Trying to keep him from licking it is requiring a very watchful eye.  Oh, just in case you don't realize... Wally is a dog.  Guess I should mention that.

Anyway... the card...  I colored yellow roses for this one.  I suppose I should move on to late summer flowers and fall cards, but roses are still in bloom and we're still very much enjoying summer.  We'll have flowers blooming well into October.  I used Power Poppy's Everything's Even Rosier clear stamp set.  The sentiment is from their Nice Things to Say set.

Using Memento London Fog ink I stamped and masked one rose, then stamped three more times.  Colored with these Copic markers:

BG10, BG11, G0000, and the Colorless Blender were used in the edge shading around the flowers.  BV01 was used to deepen some of the shadows in the roses.

Just for a little something extra in the design, I punched an oval notch in the image panel to set the ribbon slide into.  I was bound and determined to use some ribbon on this card, but I didn't want to tie a bulky knot.  Even though there's designer paper, embossing, ribbon, a ribbon slide, and quite a bit of coloring, I hoped for this card to have a clean look to it.

I'll pop in soon with one of those fall cards I mentioned.  I've got a couple of things I've been waiting to use...  Hope to see you then.  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Everything's Even Rosier, Nice Things to Say (both Power Poppy)  Paper:  X-Press It Blending Card (image), Neenah 110 lb white (quilted-embossed panel), Neenah Classic Crest Solar White (card base), Memory Box Key Lime cardstock, Bo Bunny Soft Shades Double Dot designer paper  Ink:  Memento London Fog, Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics as pictured above  Accessories:  Ribbon, ribbon slide, We R Memory Keepers Quilted embossing folder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

WARM HUGS

Happy Wednesday, friends!

 

I was in the mood to make something fun for the new Double D challenge which starts today.  Our theme is "Neutral Colors".  I wondered what's fun that's naturally neutral, and then I thought "critters"!  I think you know I love critters, especially dogs and cats, so I pulled out a favorite oldie Inky Antics stamp and paired it with a Power Poppy Nice Things to Say sentiment.

 

 

 

 

Pictured below is the inspiration board. 

 

 

 

And a peek at the prize for a random winner.  Small photo, I know, but a very cool prize -- an Amy Designs parrot die.

 

 

 

 

I didn't take much from the inspiration board other than the colors, but there're buttons and jugs and twine and numbers...  all kinds of inspiration.

 

I used a Darice Paw Prints Background embossing folder on which I brayered SU! Creamy Caramel ink before embossing.  My efforts at this technique never seem to turn out as well as those which inspire me.  I don't know if it's the ink or the texture of the embossing folder.  I tried it with a Sizzix folder, too, which has a rougher texture and it seemed to hold the ink better.  Maybe I should try Memento ink?  Any suggestions?

 

 

 

Some fun dies helped me put the scene together.  I cut the dog house from wood grain designer paper, then colored over the roof with a brown Copic marker.  Looks like someone let the grass grow tall and then failed to water it.

 

Rich said I could give this card to our Wally dog post surgery.  He's doing as well as can be expected, but requires constant vigilance.

 

Okay, friends, hop over to the Double D blog and see all the different Neutral Colors cards the team is sharing.  Everyone has a different idea, and we'd love to see yours.  Have a happy day!

 

 

 

Stamps:  Inky Antics dog & cat, Power Poppy Nice Things to Say  Paper:  X-Press It Blending Card, Neenah 110 lb white, Creamy Caramel, dark brown Core'dinations, Bo Bunny Very Vintage Double Dot designer paper, Snap Basics Wood & Notebook Paper designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Creamy Caramel, Versafine Onyx Black, Copics as pictured above  Accessories:  Baker's twine, JustRite Custom Charms heart, Impression Obsession Grass, Impression Obsession All-in-One-Frames-Oval, Paper Smooches Dog Icons, Darice Paw Prints Background embossing folder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

 

Purple Rose

Hello!  How about some flowers today?  I printed up some of my newer Power Poppy digis and decided to color Rose and Chamomile first.  I didn't notice until after it was printed that my printer needs a run through the cleaning cycle.  It looked a little messy and bold and, even though I printed in grayscale there were blue streaks around the image.  Nevertheless, I carried on with the coloring and tried to minimize the damage by using darker colors and shading in the background. 

 

 

 

No designer paper today.  Just two die cuts, some ribbon, and a quilted embossing folder.  I colored with these markers (photo includes a dog hair prop, tee hee!):

 

 

 

I cut the butterfly twice in white, but cut the swirly trail off the second one.  Sponged with apricot and cocoa inks, then layered the two die cuts together, leaving the wings free on the top so they could be lifted.  Brushed the wings with Wink of Stella.  I also added some dew drops to the rose with Viva Décor Glass Effects Gel.  The card measures 4 1/2" x 6".

 

 

 

If all goes according to plan, our Wally dog is having knee surgery today.  I don't know for sure because I'm scheduling this post ahead a bit.  I've been pretty preoccupied with Wally and imagine I will be even more so in the days ahead.  Just sayin' in case I'm absent for a while.

 

Have a happy day!

 

 

Stamps:  Power Poppy Rose and Chamomile digi  Paper:  X-Press It Blending Card, Neenah 110 lb white, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Apricot Appeal (SU!)  Ink:  Printer, Copics as pictured above  Accessories:  Offray ribbon, Wink of Stella, Viva Décor Glass Effects Gel, Die-namites Swirly Butterfly, Memory Box San Marzano Border, We R Memory Keepers Quilted embossing folder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

IT'S PARTY TIME!

Hey, it's probably party time somewhere, isn't it?  The truth is, I used up all my birthday cards in July so I set about making more.  Then it turns out I have only one August birthday.  There goes all those cute summertime birthday cards I'd planned to make.  I suppose I could start preparing for next year, but I figure this one will work regardless the season.

 

 

 

 

I used three images and a sentiment from Power Poppy's new Party Time clear stamp set.  I do love a set where everything works together so well.  I gave this one a lot of the clean white space I fancy sometimes, but it's still very colorful.  There's sugary gumdrops on the cake and shimmer on the ribbons and banner and the candle glow.

 

 

 

 

You can see the Wink of Stella shimmer a little better in the photo below.  I know that you know it's much prettier in real life.

 

 

 

The yellow package was dotted with a white gel pen.  My color choices came from a pad of designer paper which I decided not to use after all.  The frame is simply an oval cut in the center of the cross stitch panel.  I think that covers it.  I'll list supplies below.  Have a happy day!

 

 

Stamps:  Power Poppy Party Time  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Stickles Stardust glitter, Wink of Stella, Memory Box Cross Stitched Frame Borders, Spellbinders Grand Ovals, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Happy Bird-Day!

Hey, there!  Friday seems like a good day for a fun card, and this was surely a fun card to make.  Easy, relaxing, carefree, and colorful.  Very colorful.

 

  

I combined a Whipper Snapper "The Flock" image with an old SU! "Love Ya Bunches" sentiment.  Took my color cue from the picture on the stamp package, but intensified the color by about a million percent.  It's watercolored with the Tombow markers you see in the photo, plus some blue ink for the background.

 

Finished up the inside with matching paper and die, as well as a favorite old Hero Arts zigzag stamp.

 

 

That's it!  Very simple.  Hope you have a great weekend.  Love ya bunches!

 

 

Stamps:  Whipper Snapper "The Flock" (image), SU! "Love Ya Bunches" (sentiment)  Paper:  Neenah classic white card base, 140 lb hot press watercolor, Bazzill lime green, Memory Box Key Lime (leaf), Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid designer paper  Ink:  Palette Noir, SU! Bashful Blue (background), Tombow markers for watercoloring  Accessories:  Paper Smooches Foliage 1 die

A DIFFERENT SORT OF WATERCOLORING

When I made the two cards I'm sharing today I was just playing around with an idea.  I hardly ever take the time to experiment as I'm so "middle of the road" with my stamping, it seems.  I like the idea of these for backgrounds, but just this once I didn't want to cover them up.

 

The first card has a dream-like quality with the way the images emerge from the background.  I think the quote could be used for a birthday card.

 

 

 

 

It's ultra-simple:

• I stamped semi-solid images on 140 lb hot press watercolor paper and brushed over them with water.
• Let dry, then brushed water on the in-between spaces and dabbed an inky brush onto the wet paper (I used Stampin' Up! inks).
• Flicked on some splatters from my paint brush.
• Let dry again, then stamped the sentiment.

On the first image I added just a touch more ink to the largest bird.  Very little ink, really.

 

There's more color on the second card.

 

 

 

 

See how spotty the bird looks?  For that particular stamp I used a marker to color directly onto the stamp, and the ink separated into little pools as it will tend to do on certain clear stamps.  I stamped it, anyway, and brushed with water.  It's different and interesting and it spawns more ideas.

 

The image stamps are three different Inkadinkado sets, and the sentiments are from a favorite old Inque Boutique set.  I'll list everything below.

 

Linking to one of the challenges I follow:  Cards In Envy -- Wings.  Anything with wings.  Card must be flat enough to fit in an envelope.

 

I'll be back soon.  Have a glorious day!

 

 

Stamps:  Inkadinkado Birds Galore, Patterned Birds & Bugs, Foliage Trails, Inque Boutique Card Wishes  Paper:  140 lb hot press watercolor, Bazzill textured white  Ink:  SU! Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Tombow teal marker, Palette Noir for sentiments  Accessories:  Scotch brand foam mounting tape

SEASON'S GREETINGS!

Okay, wrong season, I know, but I'm getting a start.  For years I've told myself I would make a good portion of my Christmas cards with dies only.  In so doing I would be able to make quite a few cards quickly and still have time for coloring some old favorites as well as the inevitable new Christmas stamps I collect each year.  I've not been good about listening to myself, but this year I resolve anew.

Well... then I saw the White on White Challenge at The Sisterhood of Crafters, and I dashed into my stamp room and made this card in about ten minutes using two dies and an embossing folder.

Yes, it's simple and it's a lot of white, but, hey, at least there's not much that can go wrong with a card like this.  We were to use no color at all for the challenge.  Not even the sentiment.

• The deer is Tutti Scrolly Deer Edge.  The snowflakes on the body would pop out, but I left them in place and applied Stickles Stardust glitter to them as well as other spots, as you can see in the photo.
• The sentiment is Impression Obsession Holiday Bottom Word Edgers.  I cut it with a narrow edge and applied sparkly fun flock.
• I embossed the front of a Neenah 110 lb card base with a Darice embossing folder called Corner Scroll Background.  It's not a Christmas folder, but I think it looks like the deer is walking into a blizzard.  I had to turn the folder to the deboss side in order to position the pattern on the right.

Most of my Christmas cards will have some color, but I do love white on white and I especially love how quickly this came together.

Have a great day!

ROSEMARY FOR REMEMBRANCE

Monday again?  August already?  How fast these summer days fly by!  It's been so windy here these last couple of weeks I do what needs to be done in the garden and then escape to my stamp room.  Mornings are nice, but it really picks up later in the day.  While I do have some shelter from the wind in the garden, the noise of it is not at all peaceful.  I'm hoping, however, that the card I'm sharing today will impart some measure of peace to the recipient as, you see, it is a sympathy card.

 

 

 

I've used a new set from Power Poppy called Soothing Sympathy.  I stamped the rosemary four times without masking on Neenah 110 lb cardstock.  Sponged ink on the card front, then colored with Prismacolor pencils and odorless mineral spirits, and brushed over the butterfly with Wink of Stella. For a little flourish I finished it off with the Memory Box Riviera Corner.

 

 

 

The images and sentiments in this set combine so beautifully I have a feeling it will be my go-to sympathy set for quite some time.  I just hope I don't have to use it too often.

 

Wishing you a peaceful and beautiful day.

 

 

Stamps:  Power Poppy Soothing Sympathy  Paper:  Neenah 110 lb white  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Certainly Celery and Barely Banana  Coloring:  Prismacolor pencils and odorless mineral spirits  Accessories:  Wink of Stella glitter brush, Memory Box Riviera Corner