Birds and Balloons

Surprise, I do not have a Christmas card today.  I gathered up my recently purchased and printed All Dressed Up digis, intending to color the two Christmas images, and then did this one instead.  It's called Follow Your Dream and is about as far from Christmas as you can get.

I do have a reason for it.  Every year I make anniversary cards for my friend's four sons and daughters-in-law.  Now I've learned she also sends them to nieces, nephews, grandkids, and just about everyone else and she'd love to have a lot more than four.  Considering the variety of personalities and ages she sends them to, and the fact that I do this year after year, I need to think outside the box if I'm to come up with anything new.

So... I bought this digi for me just because I think it's cute, but I suddenly saw its possibilities as an anniversary card for the young at heart and wanted to make it up before I changed my mind.

It's colored with Copics and "happiness" from an old SU set was added.  Also, feeling lazy, perhaps, I opted not to shade the background, but stamped a super ancient sun from my large collection of southwest stamps that I haven't used in ages.

The stitched and scalloped mats are a combination of two unrelated die sets that work perfectly together and enable dozens of combinations:  Lawn Fawn Outside In Stitched Scalloped Rectangle Stackables and Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets.  These two sets fit so perfectly together that they can even be nested at the time of cutting.  For this combo I did a variety of cutting, fitting, and layering -- all easy stuff.

The finished card is 5 3/4" x 4 1/2", essentially A6.  By making it just 1/4" shorter it allows centering of the A2 dies without the leftover space in the length.

Inside is a Power Poppy sentiment from the Sweet Simple Things digital stamp set.  My friend can write her own "happy anniversary".  I know she can make it work.  As I mentioned, thinking outside the box.

There is a full list of supplies below my signature.  Back to the Christmas cards now, but I will say this was fun for a change.  Speaking of Christmas cards, I received my first of the season earlier this week.  Happy holidays!

Stamps:  All Dressed UP digi "Follow Your Dream", SU Warm Words "happiness", Power Poppy digital Sweet Simple Things quote for inside, old wood block sun motif  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, SU Pool Party, Taken with Teal, and Marigold Morning  Ink:  Printer, Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Pool Party stamped off once for lighter color  Accessories:  Doodlebug Sprinkles glitter enamel dot  Dies:  Lawn Fawn Outside In Stitched Scalloped Rectangle Stackables, Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets, Poppystamps Stitched Bloom Trio

Winter Birds

Hello, friends!  Here's the yearly question:  How are you doing with Christmas cards?  I took stock and found I'm still a few short, which means it's time for some simple cards before I get back to coloring.  Today I'm sharing two of four I made one afternoon using an old favorite Inkadinkado set called Winter Birds.  Does anyone have this set?  I do think the stamps are beautiful.

The first card was minutes quick, with pretty paper, gold trim, and a die cut snowflake.  The center of the snowflake would be a good place for a rhinestone, but keeping it lump-free and mail-friendly.  The sentiment is an oldie from Stampin' Up.

With Card #2 I figured the swooshing snowflake and slanted sentiment somewhat follow the suggested trajectory of the birds' flight.  I chanced some sequins on this one.  Hope they're still intact after the card goes through the mail.

Both cards use Spellbinders Scored and Pierced Rectangles.  Poppystamps Snowflake Ribbon on #2.  Simple!  Have a happy day!

Power Poppy Cyber Monday and Holiday Digital Blitz

Just in case you didn't make it to the three-day Black Friday sale at Power Poppy, there are two reasons to check out Cyber Monday:

20% off everything in the store, using discount code CYBER20.  Sale ends Nov. 27 at midnight central standard time.

-- AND --

A Holiday Digital Blitz!  Ten new digis previously only available as clear stamps.  You can find the entire Holiday Digital Blitz Collection here.  Here's a list of each individual new holiday digi:

Country Home Christmas
(Original clear stamp is Simple Joys)

Handlettered Jolly Good
(Original clear stamp is Joyful Arrangements)

Handlettered Joy to the World
(Original clear stamp is Joyful Arrangements)

Handlettered Noel
(Original clear stamp is Joyful Arrangements)

Filigree Tree
(Original clear stamp is Botanical Tree)

Glass Ornament Bough
(Original clear stamp is Bough Wow Wow)

Mittens and Merriment
(Original clear stamp is Bough Wow Wow)

Paperwhites and Juniper
(Original clear stamp is Glistening Paperwhites)

Snowy Church
(Original clear stamp is O Holy Night)

Tabletop Tree
(Original clear stamp is Under Glass: Christmas Traditions)

I love it when Marcella goes nuts with one of her digital blitzs.  These digis will continue to be available after Cyber Monday, but today they're all 20% off, so it's a good time to shop.

I couldn't resist a brand new card with Handlettered Jolly Good.

Artful image and sentiment in one, I knew this would make a quick and easy card.  Just a length of ribbon and an enamel dot for trim.  I colored with Copics and sponged the edges with the die in place.


Marcella has a few things to say and more samples to share, so please visit her at the Power Poppy Blog.  Wishing you all a happy holiday season!

Power Poppy Black Friday Sale

Just a heads up to all Black Friday shoppers:

Holy moly, it goes all the way through Sunday at midnight Central Standard time!  Sale includes all in-stock merchandise:  Clear stamps, digital stamps, and dies.  Now is the the time to stock up on Power Poppy at 30% off using discount code STOCKUP30.

Enjoy, and happy day to all!

Double D Challenge: Snuggle Up Buttercup

It's Double D Challenge time and we're asking you to Snuggle Up, Buttercup, and get cozy with your crafting.  Be inspired by the mood board to pull out whatever supplies you have to make the creation of your choice.  I'm thinking in terms of Christmas cards, so here's what I did:

In our mood board below you can see it was the red and green plaid and the comfy knitted items that inspired me.

Creative winners are selected by team vote, and a prize will go to a random winner:

So, about that sweater... my friend, Connie, sent me some pages from a desktop coloring calendar to try before I buy, and this sweater was one of them.  She warned me the paper was very thin and not so easy for Copic coloring, but I solved that problem by scanning and printing actual size onto X-Press It Blending Card.  Hooray, it worked!

I mixed up the background with a snowflake-embossed red panel and some gingham over the plaid, tucked in a tag, and trimmed with a stitched scalloped edge.  The snowflakes on the sweater printed black, of course, but I went over them with the ultra-fine tip of a red Stampin' Up! marker.  I use those markers a lot for detail like this.  Gold snowflakes for sparkle.  The sentiment is a Stampin' Up! oldie.  Full recipe is below my signature.

There are some super fun team samples on the Double D blog.  I see Darlene and I had almost exactly the same idea, and some of the girls used a cable knit embossing folder that I'm now coveting.  There are kitties and a puppy and mugs of warm brew... so much inspiration.  Enjoy, and I'll see you again soon!

Stamps:  Calendar page sweater, SU All Year Cheer I  Paper:  X-Press It Blending Card, SU Very Vanilla heavy weight, kraft, SU Poppy Parade, gold glitter card stock, Graphic 45 Raining Cats & Dogs designer paper  Ink:  Printer, SU Chocolate Chip, SU red marker, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Cuttlebug Snowflakes embossing folder,  Fiskars Scallop Paper Edgers (scissors), Poppystamps Stitched Main Street Tags, Spellbinders Create-a-Flake Five

Twofer Wreath Challenge

Hello on a Monday, friends!  Yippee skippee, I got some cards made in time for the November Twofer Challenge.  Two different designs for two different occasions using the same stamps, stencils, and/or dies.  The prompt this month is "Wreath".  We're supposed to photograph the two cards together for the link up, so I've done that first.

Thinking I could make some quick cards with no coloring, SU's Wondrous Wreath was the first stamp set to pop into my head.  I made the Christmas card first, stamping and turning and stamping multiple times, but still had some blank spots due to a flawed stamp that SU did not want to replace (grrrr), so filled in with die cut Poinsettias and a bow.  Lots of stamping, die cutting, gluing, applying Stickles.  A clean and simple and not so quick card.  Ultimately, I like how it turned out.

The second card was much quicker.  I used only one stamp from the multi-stamp set, whereas I used three on the first card.  Gee, I hope that's okay for the challenge.  It's the same stamp, two different ways, right?   In this case, the flawed part of the stamp is under the gingham designer paper, and I stamped it three times in a row, somewhat like a garland.  Added little flowers punched from glitter paper.  Rhinestone centers.  The flower on the sentiment has die cut leaves.

Honestly, if it wasn't for the Twofer Challenge I may not have ever used this wreath again, but now I love it to pieces because of that sweet garland.  You just never know.

Supplies listed below.  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  SU Wondrous Wreath, Your Next Stamp Whatnot Sentiments Eleven (thinking of you)  Paper:  SU Whisper White and Cameo Coral, Coral glitter paper, Bazzill tan, Prima Julie Nutting designer paper  Ink:  SU Wild Wasabi and Garden Green, Memento Tuxedo Black  Accessories:  Black Stickles and gold Stickles (Christmas), rhinestones, flower punch (thinking of you card)  Dies:  Memory Box Seraphine Laurel (Poinsettias), Impression Obsession Large Bow,  Sue Wilson Pierced Flags, Taylored Expressions Ric Rac Borders, Impression Obsession Leaf Cluster

Garden and Nature

On Goldens and Garden today:

Thank you!

Introducing Snowdrops and Tea Roses

There's a delightful new digital stamp set release at Power Poppy today.  It's called Snowdrops and Tea Roses and, ohhhh, how pretty it is!  I printed the no-line version not too large so I could color the whole dainty, delicate, lovely thing.

Marcella's notes:

"The first in a series of bouquets nestled inside vintage French café au lait bowls. Festive enough for Christmas cards; cozy enough for a winter’s afternoon coloring session. This scene features a trio of hybrid tea roses arranged with crisp white snowdrops and variegated holly. Be open and adventurous with your coloring, ie: berries can be white/pink/light green if you are using red roses. Holly doesn't always have to be red. Remember, we are making the picture, nature is just one of our inspirations. 

Digital download includes a no line version, and two merry sentiments.

A few tea rose varieties to use as inspirations to make this bouquet especially festive: 'Bewitched' (pale pink), 'Neil Diamond' (red-and-white streaked), 'Cinnamon Dolce' (dark red with pink streaks), 'Gemini' (creamy center with coral pink edges), 'World War II Memorial Rose' (light pink with tinges of red)."

I used Prismacolor pencils for today's card, and not my usual way of blending with odorless mineral spirits.  Rather, I blended one pencil into another, coloring over and over.  I do love the control and detail with pencils.  Fun for a change!  The background was done with Copic markers.

I cropped one of the sentiments and tucked it up close, then framed and finished.  One more done for Christmas!

Please visit the Power Poppy blog for more from Marcella and a link list to all the Instant Gardeners' gorgeous creations with Snowdrops and Tea Roses.  Thanks much for your visit.  Hugs and happy day!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Snowdrops and Tea Roses digital set  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Mintay Christmas Stories designer paper  Ink:  Printer  Coloring:  Prismacolor Pencils, Copics in background only  Accessories:  Impression Obsession All-In-One-Frames-Oval, Poppystamps Prim and Proper Bow

Playing along with Mojo Monday Sketch

I was so happy to see the return of the Mojo Monday sketch challenge which is now every other Monday on Julee's own beautiful blog.  The current challenge is here.  There's nothing clean and simple about my card, but it was relatively quick to make because I had the sketch and stamp all picked out.  Loving on an old Plum Purdy today.

Pictured below is the sketch I used.

I followed the sketch closely, with only minor adjustments to make everything fit.  I cut out the Copic colored image so it could overlap the circle, rather than making a larger circle.  Extra sunflowers colored and cut from two additional images, with die cut leaves added.

Burlap paper, ribbon trim, an embossed card base barely peeking out from behind... these are a few of my favorite things about card crafting.  Designer paper, coloring, die cuts, sigh...  a room full of goodies.  Don't you just love stamping?

I will be back tomorrow with something new from Power Poppy.  I've had it colored quite a while and waiting to share.  Otherwise... despite circumstances, I'm pretty sure I'll make time for stamping.  Can't stay away, so hoping I'll see you next week.  Take care, and have a happy day!

CAS Santa

Monday greetings!  Card crafting slowed down when I decided to make gardening and housework and grocery shopping a priority for the time being.  I know, it's not nearly as much fun, but a necessity.  However, I still popped into my room a little bit each day so I could make a card for the current CAS Christmas Card Challenge.  The prompt this time is "Santa".  How could I resist the opportunity to use this darling Stamping Bella "Santa Has a Prezzie"?

How they describe CAS:

- clean (uncluttered) cohesive design

- must include white "or open" space (no pattern)

- minimal layers and embellishments

I think this qualifies, seeing as how CAS refers more to the design than to how much time you spent getting it that way.

Santa is colored with Copics and cut out.  I added white pearl pen sprinkled with microfine glitter to his hat and coat trim.  I isolated each "Ho" in the sentiment and circle punched -- 1/2", 5/8", 3/4".  Layered each punched circle onto a second circle for dimension, then lightly colored with a blue Copic and added Glossy Accents.  Arranged the circles to suggest Santa's laughter is receding into the distant mountains.  A sentiment is not considered an embellishment, but it sort of turned into an embellishment, didn't it?

Dies are Poppystamps Stitched Landscapes and Stitched Majestic Mountains.

Gosh, this was fun.  Fingers crossed that I'll be back soon.  Glad you stopped by!

Right at Home

On Goldens and Garden today.

Thank you!

Friday's Flowers

Back to the pumpkins again, but thought I'd do a white one this time.  I love the Season's Seatings digital set with or without the chair, so I printed and colored both.  The first was watercolored.  This one was colored with Copics.  It's a very clean and simple card design with lots of white and only a length of silver cord for accent.

I had a hard time getting happy with the color of the pumpkin.  When you Google white pumpkins it depends upon which photo you view, but most in the pumpkin patch are not a stark white.  They have a subtle hint of yellow.  After I left this sitting for a while, dissatisfied, I went back over it with first E50 and then YR31.  Still not sure of it, but I'm leaving it alone.


As always, the more I stamp, the more I stamp.  It helps that it's been raining quite a bit, although it's beautifully sunny as I write this.  I'm hurrying off to my stamp room now before time gets away from me.  A little coloring each day keeps the blues away.  Take care, and enjoy your weekend!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Season's Seatings digital set  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, SU Going Gray, Ms Sparkle & Co wood grain designer paper  Ink:  Printer, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Silver cord, Spellbinders A2 Curved Borders One

Fall Cotton Wreath

Hello there!  Back with a fall card today.  Last year I bought only one fall stamp and this year I have almost more than I can handle.  Making up for lost time?  This one is called Fall Cotton Wreath.  It's different from anything else I had and I do think it's very pretty.  There's just something about a wreath.

It's a digital stamp which comes with several pre-colored versions for super quick cards.  I colored this one with Copic markers and will be using it as a Thanksgiving card.

The top of the tag seemed like a good place for a button, so I handmade my own with circle punches.  It's not that I don't have buckets o' buttons, but I wanted one that's less dimensional and easier to mail.  Honestly, you'd never know it wasn't a real button.

Here's what I did:

• Punch 2 holes in card stock with 1/4" circle punch.
• Center 1/2" punch over the holes and punch again.  Now I have the two rings.
• Punch another 1/2" circle.  Glue all three together.
• Color if desired.  I used a slightly darker color in the center.
• Pierce button holes (2 or 4).
• Coat with Glossy Accents.  When dry, pierce holes again.

I threaded linen thread through the holes.  The recessed center means no added lump from the thread.  Additionally, I punched a 1/4" hole in the top of the tag so the threaded area would seat down into it.

The most important thing about the button is that it was fun to make.  Imagine all the shapes and sizes -- scalloped circles, squares, little flowers or butterflies, leaves, etc.  Make the top layer from a small print designer paper.  Christmas buttons would be cute!

Okay, that's it from me today.  Moving along to the next fun project...  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Fall Cotton Wreath digital stamp set  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, SU Marigold Morning, Elizabeth Craft Through the Lens Wood Series designer paper  Ink:  Printer, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  1/4" and 1/2" circle punches, Glossy Accents, linen thread, Sizzix Fancy Tags 

Ultimate Poinsettia

Hello, and good Monday to you!  On Friday I mentioned I would have a flower card today.  Well... that's because I have a new digital stamp from Power Poppy.  You know they're my weakness, and I'm thrilled no end to have the opportunity to help introduce Ultimate Poinsettia.

I should mention right off that I painted this with Twinkling H2Os, which may explain the somewhat grainy appearance.  The shimmer is hard to photograph, but looks pretty great in real life.  I was thinking I could make it look like an artificial arrangement.  Hmmm...

Pictured below is the set as it comes.  It includes a no-line (or light line) image so you don't have to fool around with any fancy stuff when you print it.

Here's the scoop from Marcella:

"One of our most popular holiday clear stamps is now available as a resizable digital download. Straight from the set "Winter Wonderland" without any alterations, we have the gorgeous floral spray that will bring a splash of decadence to your holiday cards! A Poinsettia is surrounded by frilly Anemones, Dusty Miller leaves, and Pepperberries. Of course we want you to color these plants in any way that brings you delight. But if you’re a purest, there are the inspirations behind my drawing! A new sentiment that you can color in joins the floral display."

So... if you read Marcella's description you know what she had in mind when she created this arrangement.  I have the Winter Wonderland clear set and I can see now I was way off the mark when I colored it!  I thought those were Hellebores and oak leaves, and I had no idea what the berries were.  Nevertheless, that first attempt turned out very pretty and so will yours when you color the Ultimate Poinsettia any which way you choose.

The final picture shows that the poinsettia is actually more gold than green.  I did add a little bit of green and red when I painted it.  Twinks aren't the easiest medium, but I'd like to make a point of using them more often... until I run out, that is.  I don't think they're even manufactured any longer.  More's the pity because I'm just now learning to love them.

I'll direct you to the following links so you can see more Ultimate Poinsettia creations:

Broni Holcombe
Rhea Weigand
Barb Walker
Marcella on the Power Poppy blog

Well, that's it!  I hope you enjoyed.  I'll see you again when stamping happens.  Have a happy day!