Moonlight Sailing

Welcome back!  I continue to work away at the not-yet-used stamps. I've only had this one for a couple of years.  I know!

I keep stamping flowers and critters, critters and flowers, and have felt I should do something else once in a while.  I wondered what that would be, hmmm?  Well, I live close to the beach, so how about some beachy cards?  And that's how this stamp came into my collection.  More on that in a minute, but first, the card:

And here's how the stamp is depicted on the packaging:

I thought it would make good masculine cards, and I do like the stamp, but the more I looked at it, the more I puzzled over the coloring of it.  I could be wrong, but it seemed to me, whether that large orb was a vivid sunset or a full moon rising, there probably wouldn't be much color showing on the boat.  Maybe it should be more of a silhouette.  I don't know... what do you think?

At any rate, after pondering this for two years (!!) I finally decided to color it as a silhouette against a splendiferously huge, bright, other worldly kind of moon.  Just a hint of color showing on the boat.  The sentiment is from another not-yet-used stamp set.  I can see it as a retirement card.  Now, all I need is for a guy friend to retire.  However, with the right sentiment inside, it could be used for other occasions, too.

More not-yet-used supplies on the frame -- the anchor and fishing net -- which I bought for all these (ahem) beachy cards I planned to make.  The fishing net is a large square, but as you can see, I used just a corner of it.  Another corner decorates the inside of the card.

Maybe later I'll make it into a sunset.

I've been doing more than my usual volume of stamping, so I'll pop in again Friday.  I have to keep this up or I'll lose my momentum.  It's always been the case -- the more I stamp, the more I stamp.  Know what I mean?  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  CC Designs "Sailboat", Inky Antics "Moonlight Raccoon" (sentiment)  Paper:  X-Press It Blending Card (colored panel), Neenah 110 lb white (frame and seashells), Real Red, Basic Black, navy Core'dinations  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Adirondack Sandal (for sponging seashells), Copics for coloring -- blues are B60, B63, B66, B69  Accessories:  Spellbinders Grand Squares (frame), Amy Design Fishing Net, KaiserCraft Anchors, Impression Obsession Sea Shells

Pretty Potties Sweet and Pink

Hello, friends!  Friday I shared Christmas cards, but today it's back to springtime.  It's a lot like our kooky weather that can't make up its mind.

These are two very simple feel-good cards using a Pretty Potties stamp set by Pink Petticoat.  I think it might have been a magazine freebie in 2013.  Gosh, that's five years ago already.  No matter the age when you're smitten, and I do love these stamps!  There are no sentiments with this set, so I combined both with a Hampton Art sentiment set called "Celebrate Life".

Even though these stamps are five years old, they're new to me, having been received as a birthday gift in late October.  My friend, Cheryl, went to great lengths to find them for me after she saw my adoring comment on Connie's blog where she'd used this set some time ago.  It's quite a web of friendship we stampers have, isn't it?  I'm feeling a lot of love!

These stamps seem to beg for clean and simple, so I gave them a lot of white space, but also worked in a little designer paper.  The first card uses a die cut Palma Curve topper (Poppystamps), and the second card has a deep, double scalloped edge.  The scallops were done with an old Stampin' Up slit punch.

Well, gee, I've had these stamps four months and am just now using them.  Actually, that's not bad for me, considering I've got some not-yet-used stamps that have been sitting MUCH longer.  I'm doing better, really.  No more of this nonsense of letting them sit so long I lose interest in them.  I'm so over that.  Still working on catching up with the not-yet-used stuff, but I'm getting there.  Are you in the same boat?

A full list of supplies can be found below my signature.  I'll be back to visit again Wednesday.  Till then... happy stamping!

Stamps:  Pink Petticoat "Pretty Potties", Hampton Art Kia "Celebrate Life" (sentiments)  Paper:  X-Press It Blending Card, Echo Park Creative Agenda designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Stampin' Up! slit punch for scallops, Poppystamps Palma Curve

Three Degrees of Simplicity

Last Sunday our weather turned from a beautiful false spring to a blustery mix of hail and snow, dark and, at times, quite stormy.  I can't bring myself to say it was gloomy, as I do enjoy the drama of an occasional stormy day, especially when viewed through the window of my cozy stamp room.  So that's where I spent the day.  All day, no kidding.  It was a rare treat and a perfect day for making Christmas cards.

I started with this card:

It has a glossy card stock base with ink sponge-rubbed directly onto it -- SU's Brilliant Blue and Bliss Blue.  Clapped wet hands over it to make the splatters.  Learned that trick from Pam Sparks.  Thanks, Pam!  Laid a napkin over the wet splatters, then lifted and this is the result.

Next, layered a snowflake background, then a stitched frame, bird, foliage, Noel.  The noel was cut from another piece of inked glossy card stock, the bird from silver glitter paper.  Most of the dies are layered for dimension.  I think you can see some of it in the photo.

Hmmm... too much work to repeat, so I made the next one simpler.  A base of white wood grain card stock with a smaller inked panel.  On this one I stamped a few snowflakes with Versamark ink, then rubbed on the Brilliant Blue.  Did the hand-clapping splatters.  A bit much, but it makes the single color background more interesting.  The Noel is cut from red mirrored card stock.  Note the leafy branch:  It's cut from the same wood grain card stock, but on the reverse side.  This way the white matches, but the texture contrasts.

The third card is simpler still.  The white is Neenah 110 lb.  I used a Sizzix wood grain embossing folder for the background.  The Noel is glossy card stock, inked with Brilliant Blue, no splatters.

After I finished the Christmas cards I immediately made two cards all springy fresh and pink.  I'll pop in with those next week.

Everything I used on these three cards is listed in the recipe below my signature.  Are you making Christmas cards yet?  I know, it's hard, but will be worth it later.  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  SU Serene Snowflakes  Paper:  Glossy white, Georgia Pacific Premium white, wood grain white, Neenah 110 lb white, silver glitter card stock, red mirroed card stock, black  Ink:  SU Brilliant Blue, Bliss Blue, Melon Mambo, BlackBerry Bliss (the last two are on the Noel, card #1)  Accessories:  Sizzix wood grain embossing folder  Dies:  Memory Box Scattered Snowflake Background, Die-namics Stitched Rectangle Frames, Memory Box Airin Bird Background, Paper Smooches Foliage 1, SU Wonderful Wreath Framelits

Double D Challenge: Woodland Creatures

Hello, friends!  We have a fun challenge starting today at Double D -- Woodland Creatures.  It's a challenge after my own heart as I love all creatures, great and small.  Well, maybe not spiders.  Or cockroaches... or snakes... but you get my drift.  There are so many ways I could have gone with this, but I decided to pull an older digital stamp from my Squigglefly archives (no longer in business).  Paired it with a Whipper Snapper sentiment 'cause I've always wanted to put these two together, and here's my card:

Below is our inspiration board which I found totally irresistible:

The team has the difficult job of voting on favorites, plus a random winner will receive this cute die set:

I had the fun of coloring and playing with some favorite designer paper and coming up with a layout... putting it all together in a one-postage-stamp card.  All my favorite things!

Honestly, I tried coloring the raccoon in dark grey, but it looked blah, so I went with black.  He's a poppin' raccoon and he's come out of the woodland to fish for snails in a vase of flowers someone left out on the patio overnight.  Not an unusual sight at all.

I hope you'll have a chance to join in the fun.  I know there will be some cute cards for this challenge.  Speaking of cute cards, you'll love what Team Darlene and Team Diane have created.  We all wanted to play this time around!

Supplies and more details are listed below.  Have a great day!

Stamps:  Squigglefly raccoon digi, Whipper Snapper sentiment  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Neenah Naturals for card base (not visible in photo), Bo Bunny Camp-a-Lot designer paper  Ink:  Printer, Memento Tuxedo Black, Adirondack Sandal for sponging image panel, Copics for coloring, Prismacolor Premier .005 black marker for fine raccoon hairs  Accessories:  Black Diamond Stickles and 1/4" circle punch for flower center  Dies:  Spellbinders Long Classic Rectangles, Spellbinders Standard Circles Large, Heartfelt Creations Delicate Asters die

Twofer Challenge -- Hearts

Hi, there, and happy Friday!  I'm playing along today in Darnell's Twofer Challenge.  The theme this time around is "hearts".  Use the same stamp to create two different cards for different purposes.  Stretch your stamps and have fun doing it!

I used a very old wood block "Fancy Heart" by StampCraft.  It's so old I don't even know if they make stamps anymore, but I've liked the stamp enough to keep it all these years.  So here are my two cards:

There's a conspicuous lack of color -- not my usual way, but might as well do something different once in a while.  That's SU's old Green Galore.  The "perfect" card shows the stamp as is, and the "fantastic" card shows it turned into a butterfly, all chunky and funky with wonky antennae and pearls for its body.

#1 with Spellbinders Elegant Ovals and Verve Amazing Adjectives.  This one is a thank you card.  Inside is a Shakespeare quote, "My heart is forever at your service".

#2 is the butterfly.  I thought it would be fun to use the flourishy bow as a sort of flight trail.  The wonky antennae are a portion of a swirly die.  I know, really pushing the envelope.  Punched flowers with die cut leaves.  Glitter paper.  A few dots of clear glitter here and there.  It's a 4 1/4" gift enclosure, intended as a combination retirement/new home congratulations for a friend.  I'm going to try to find a not-too-tacky butterfly wind chimes to send with it.

The butterfly and flight trail are coated with Wink of Stella.  The inside sentiment is from Words to the Rescue Variety Pack 1.

Okay, that was fun and quick and now I have two cards ready to mail.  I even used ribbon!  Thanks for a perfectly fantastic challenge, Darnell!  Enjoy your day and I'll see you all next week!

Twofer Challenge

Watercolored Tulips in Pitcher

Hello, again, friends!  I thought I'd better share this tulips card before I forget its scant details.  I made it last month for a birthday, but held off posting until it had been received.  Then along came the Valentines and the Double D challenge and. . . well, this got set aside, but we're here now. 

The stamp is Power Poppy's Tulips in Hobnail Pitcher, a digital stamp, printed nice and big on Arches 140 lb Hot Press watercolor paper.

I used Tombow markers for watercoloring.  It never ceases to amaze me how few markers I can get by with.  The rust color is in both tulips, the table top, and the light splattering over the painting.

The photos were taken on a dark day with my old camera just as it was going on the fritz.  My DSLR and my pocket-sized Elph gave up the ghost at the same time, tsk tsk, and have joined the graveyard of electronics in our spare room.  Anyway, I think this might have looked better in real life.

The card base is SU's Core'dinations card stock, lightly sanded.  Image panel popped up.

The sentiment is from a Power Poppy clear stamp set -- Tree of Life.

And that's that!  I'm off to the start of a beautiful day.  Hope you enjoy yours, as well.  See you again soon!

The Last of the Valentines

I've finished up the last of the Valentines, and it's a good thing because we're having a false spring and the outdoors are beckoning.  This is not the time to be sitting in my stamp room no matter how much fun it is.  Must enjoy that sunshine before it goes away again!

Today I have two more cards using the uber-cute Va-Va-Valentines digi set from Power Poppy.  I was thinking how quick and simple these cards are, but I looked at my pile of supplies after I finished -- three paper pads, four die sets, one embossing folder, ribbon, rhinestones... no wonder my room was such a mess!  I'll list all supplies at the end.  The first card is a soft color combo with honest to goodness ribbon.

The second card has a good deal more color set against a white embossed background.  The swirls in the embossed panel and the ribbon tails are meant to echo the swirly pattern in the designer paper.  Coloring on both cards was done with Copic markers.

The first card with its pink/gray/red color combo is for the Color Throwdown challenge.

The second card is just because.

My room is all tidied up now and ready for the next project... when the rain comes back.  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Va-Va-Valentines digital set  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White and Neenah 110 lb white, SU Pink Pirouette, MFT Homespun Gingham, Carte Bella Words of Love, Echo Park Happy Summer designer paper  Ink:  Printer, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Taffeta ribbon, rhinestone hearts, Cuttlebug Musical Flourish embossing folder  Dies:  Sizzix Fancy Tags, Lil' Inker Side Stitched Rectangles, Spellbinders Scalloped Hearts, Impression Obsession Large Bow

Double D Challenge: Sequins

Hi there!  I'm joining up with Team Diane today to usher in a new Double D challenge:  Sequins.  Honestly, you buy one bag of sequins and you have a bunch.  But then you "need" more colors, and more, and on and on it goes until you're swimming in sequins.  At least that's my story.  Well, here's some encouragement to use a few of those sequins.

I used only five sequins on my card today, but I tend to use them sparingly, which helps explain why I have so many.  I pulled a few from a pastel collection to match up with this springtime scene.

Here's our inspiration board and a prize:

   

The only thing my card has in common with the inspiration board is the sequins, but I couldn't resist coloring my pretty, not-yet-used Agnes.  Oh, how I've loved all seven of my Loralie stamp sets, but now they're no longer in production.  I shouldn't have waited so long to color this one, but I'm perfectly happy to love on her now.  To my eyes she's adorable!  By the way, she was sent as a birthday card.  What in the world do you do with a sentiment like "I feel pretty"?  Well, you make a pretty card and send it along just for fun.

Every part of my card is watercolored on Strathmore Mixed Media Vellum Surface paper.  I used another old, retired product for the watercoloring -- SU's Watercolor Wonder Crayons.  The background is swished and smooshed.  I'm enjoying these crayons after all the years of letting them sit unopened.  Each crayon holds far more paint than you find in tray-type watercolor collections, and they're actually paint -- not ink, not crayons.  Paint.  I wish I'd bought more than two sets.

Inside is spruced up with watercolored flowers and a Copic colored border.

Be sure to check the Double D blog for challenge details and to see the ultra-inspiring cards by the team.  There are more details about this card in the recipe below.  Thanks for coming to visit me.  You know I love it when you do!

Stamps:  Loralie Designs -- Agnes, Art Impressions I Feel Pretty  Paper:  Strathmore Mixed Media Vellum Surface, other white for card base  Ink:  Palette Noir, Memento Tuxedo Black (sentiment)  Coloring:  SU Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Tombow markers -- gray and black  Accessories:  Sequins, Poppystamps Freida Curve, Lil' Inker Silly Stitched Die Set, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

A Funny Punny for My Honey

Hello, friends!  A new week, a new card.  I splurged a whole $6 and bought the new Va-Va-Valentines digi set from Power Poppy and made this card for my one and only:

This particular image resonates with me as I know it will Rich.  With two Golden Retrievers in the house, socks are always disappearing.  They're never damaged, but they do get carried off.  So, there you go -- I was tee heeing all over the place when I saw this.

I made a 4 1/2" card, simple, using some of the very few Valentine papers I have.  I tried to keep it somewhat manly, but, hey, it's a Valentine.  Copic coloring of the image, sparkly punched hearts, an old Spellbinders Heart Circle, ribbon... easy stuff.

I made sure I used the sparkly hearts specifically so I could play along in this month's Power & Spark Challenge at Power Poppy:  Love to Sparkle.

Additionally, I'm right on time to join The Paper Players Challenge:  Will You Be My Valentine.

Girls just gotta have fun!  I hope you're having fun, too!

Valentine Pups

Hello at last!  It's Valentine month so I set everything aside and got started.  Much as I'd like to focus on one project at a time, I do have four separate projects currently in the works.  Really, I'm not that scatter brained.  Tell me, does this happen to you?

• Shortly after Christmas I started a batch of four Christmas cards and have been working on them a little at a time between other projects.
• I made a background for a Valentine, but decided it would be pretty for a Christmas card, so it's set aside with parts for the making.
• I printed up four digis to color a gift set for a friend.  Made one card, but realized the rest would have to get in line with more pressing card needs.
• I suddenly had the strongest urge to play with layouts and designer papers so I got started on that with some old papers that need to be used up.

All projects are in neat little piles,  waiting to be finished, but first -- Valentines!

I only have one sweetie and one child, but Valentines are too fun to make only two.  These will go to friends.  Valentine parties in grade school were my favorite.  All those cute little cards!  I think I was destined to be a card maker.

I used a Bugaboo set called Valentine Pup.  Copic coloring, a few die cuts, a bit of patterned paper.  There are Nuvo glitter drops on the first card.  The second card has an embossed paw prints base, smooshed with white ink.  Simple, but cute.

When I was making these cards I realized for the first time I could snap the nozzle off my Nuvo drops.  I honestly did not know that.  Just push the nozzle to the side and it comes right off.  I thought my Nuvo drops were doomed as they were all plugged up after only a few uses.  Now I take off the nozzle and rinse after each use.  So happy!  I might need more Nuvo drops now...

I'm glad we could visit today.  It's been fun!  Now, back to making more Valentines.  Enjoy your day!
 

Stamps:  Bugaboo Valentine Pup digital set, Power Poppy Springtime Love sentiment  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Neenah 110 lb white, SU Melon Mambo and Going Gray, Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid designer paper  Ink:  Printer, Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Craft White, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Nuvo Sherbet Shimmer Glitter Drops, Darice Paw Prints Background embossing folder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape  Dies:  Lawn Fawn Outside In Stitched Scalloped Rectangle Stacklets (long name!), Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangles Stacklets, Lil' Inker Silly Stitched Die Set, Frantic Stamper Sending Love/Hugs