Pretty Bird

Hi there!  I'm back with a bird today.  In fact, I made two cards with this not-yet-used stamp, purchased in December 2016.  That's a crazy lot of time for such a pretty thing to be left sitting, isn't it?  I was surprised at how much time had passed, but I looked it up to be certain.  Sure enough, just over two years.

It's an Impression Obsession stamp simply called "Bird".  I've often said I'm intimidated by the thought of coloring realistic birds, but once I decided to do this very simply with just a blush of color and nothing complex in the background it came together very quickly and easily.  I used Prismacolor pencils and odorless mineral spirits for the coloring, and stamped retired SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds splatter around it.

I nested some Spellbinders dies for a designer paper frame and then set the bird panel right into it with nothing popped up.  The sentiment is from my bag o' sentiments which were stamped, but not used for whatever project at the time.  I have no idea what the sentiment belongs to, but it's a pretty font.  Stamped more Itty Bitty on the sentiment circle.

Since the coloring was quick and the card very simple, I took the time to make some special flowers for it.  Die cut, colored with pencils.  Got them good and wet, wadded up tightly, then carefully smoothed out, but not too smooth.  Dried them with the heat tool, then added a glue dot and Prills to the centers.  They're very stiff so they hold their shape, but not too lumpy for easy mailing.  Makes me think I need more flower dies...  NOT.  I have plenty of everything to last me a while.

Ingredients are listed below.  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Impression Obsession Bird, SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds, unknown sentiment  Paper:  Neenah Classic White, My Mind's Eye A Beautiful Life designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Old Olive  Coloring:  Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol odorless mineral spirits  Accessories:  Prills, Linen thread, circle punch  Dies:  Spellbinders Scored and Pierced Rectangles, Elizabeth Craft Bunch of Flowers 4

Simple Thinking of You

Hello on a Monday, friends!  I hope this day finds you well and happy, staying comfortably warm or cool, depending upon what part of the world you're in.  It's a little bit of everything here, and I'm a little bit all over the place getting things done.  I took time out today to photograph some of what I've been working on.  I need to get a card order filled, so progress must be made.

These cards are clean and simple, both in design and in the time it took to make them.  I always hope my friend won't mind a few quick cards in her order to go along with the more artsy, time consuming cards.  She never complains.  I actually like them a lot.

I looked back to a card I made years ago.  Saved the picture in my sketch book because it just works for me.  A little texture, a little color, an additional design element for interest.  Can you believe I used eyelets?  I know!  I always liked eyelets because they gave me hardware with virtually no lumps or bumps, and then they became old school.  But, really, do they look so awful?  I'm thinking I should use them more.  I have a drawer full and, believe me, a drawer full of eyelets is a lot of eyelets.

The ribbon is a plus, as well.  How many colors of this 1/4" gingham ribbon do I have?  I lost count, but these cards represent four of them, with matching eyelets.  Silver eyelets on the first card because I didn't have a matching blue.

Just look at all this old stuff!  Old SU colors, old eyelets, old stamps, old Swiss Dot embossing folder.  The flower stamp is a Great Impressions wood block stamp with no name or date on it, but it was one of my earliest stamps.  I've used it many times as it's so cute and easy to color.  It doesn't look old, does it?   The sentiment is an early JustRite, cut with a JustRite custom die.  It feels good to use some of the things I've been saving all these years.  My heart does love the oldies.

Tell me, what old school stuff is still in your stash?  Do we need to start a trend?  You know everything old is new again.  Have a happy day!

Christmas in January 2019

Hello, friends!  I know you're all busily working on your Christmas cards.  Wait... what?  Well, neither am I, but I do plan to be further ahead this year come December.  There was simply too much last minute in 2018.  I may not do a Christmas post every month, but I hope to do batches of the same stamp set or vendor.  I'll start with the two Christmas digis I picked up last year at All Dressed Up.

The first is Christmas Deer.  She's such a pretty thing, I couldn't resist.  Colored with Copics, framed with dreamy paper and elliptical circles.  Vellum poinsettias and Nuvo drops for trim.

(Our Daily Bread Designs Beautiful Blooms paper, Memory Box Seraphine Laurel and Peace Cheshire Script)

The second card is Christmas Robins, also colored with Copics.  This one has some Wink of Stella and Stickles sparkle, plus glitter paper under the border.  I made two cards with this image, but only photographed one.

(Spellbinders A2 Bracket Borders One, Sizzix Primitive Stars)

Keeping it quick today, just sticking to my commitment.  It's hard to start a Christmas card this time of year, but once you're over that hurdle it's all about the fun.  Now... back to anything but Christmas.  Have a happy day!

New From Power Poppy: My Favorite Pair

Marcella's been drawing again!  She's released the second in her digital series of vintage cafe' au lait bowl bouquets and is it ever beautiful!  She calls it "My Favorite Pair".

Marcella's notes:

"A perfectly piled jumble of ripe pears, African violets, and meandering ribbon comprise the second in my series of vintage café au lait bowl bouquets. Think of the fun you can have with this one!  As we burrow into our winter wonderlands, the freshness of houseplants in windowsills is sometimes the only green to be seen!  Bursting forth with blossoms in purples and pinks, blues, reds, and whites — the coloring options are endless.  This illustration comes with an alternate version with a hand lettered sentiment, and a no-line version of each complete drawing.  Pick up Snowdrops and Tea Roses to complete the set, and look for another café au lait bouquet coming in February."


I printed the no-line, no-sentiment version on X-Press It Blending Card and colored with Copics.  I needed this to be a birthday card so I stamped a sentiment on the tag, somewhat wonky, but it was the only way it would fit.  I don't think the birthday girl will mind.

By printing slightly smaller than I normally do for digital stamps I was allowed room for playing with papers.  In fact, I started with the ribbon (must use it or lose it), then chose the papers, constructed the layout and, finally, colored to match.  This crafting progression always saves time in the end and makes it easier to choose image colors.  Decisions, decisions!

I added rhinestones, too.  All these things in my stamp room... I've already purged enough, so the remaining supplies must be used.  Vintage supplies for a vintage bowl.  Gosh, it's a pretty stamp!

See more of My Favorite Pair here:

Cheryl Scrivens
Broni Holcombe
Jennifer Dove
Marcella at the Power Poppy Blog

Thanks for dropping in.  Enjoy your day!

Goldens and Garden

On Goldens and Garden today...

Thank you!

Double D Challenge: Looking Back in Time

First order of the day:  All winners from our 3rd anniversary/birthday "It's on the Menu" challenge were announced on the 15th at Double D.  Please check there for a full winners list.  I will contact the winner of my prize.  Thank you!

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Our new challenge at Double D is "Looking Back in Time".  Think of something that reminds you of days gone by.

Do you recognize the White Rabbit on my card?  I read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass when I was eight years old.  Now, there's a bit of nostalgia from the (ahem) distant past!  I was able to bring this memory back thanks to an honest to goodness vintage image digitally remastered at Digital Two for Tuesday (and it's free!).

More card talk in a minute, but first have a look at our inspiration board:

The Double D team will vote on creative winners, and there is a prize for a random winner, as well:

I've had this image printed and awaiting color for I-don't-know-how-many years.  I always thought it would be fun for a belated birthday card, but never got around to it.  I do have a "sorry I'm late" sentiment, but it was too small and the font wasn't quite right for the vintage look, so I used this one instead and I think it still gets the point across.

An ornate frame, a pad of old-timey papers, watches cut from one of the papers, sepia-toned Copic coloring with just a spot of color...  I don't do much vintage these days, but, gosh, this was fun.  I also stamped an old SU Sanded background over the image and sentiment panels to give a little more aging, and then finished it off with copper brads.

I even propped the photo with an antique book -- Poems by James Thomson (born 1700).  I don't remember where I got the book, but it has an inscription in it dated 1898.  Definitely looking back in time!

Well, that's enough from me, I suppose.  I hope you'll take a look at the Double D blog and all my teammates' vintage-themed cards and be inspired to play along.  Thank you so much for your visit!

Stamps:  White Rabbit free digi from Digital Two for Tuesday, SU It's Your Birthday, SU Sanded background  Paper:  Neenah Classic white, Neenah Husk card base covered (not visible), Bo Bunny Timepiece designer paper  Ink:  Printer, SU Close to Cocoa, CTMH Parchment (for the Sanded background), Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Brads, Sue Wilson Porto die and Pierced Flags

Pink and Gray for an Anniversary

Hello there!  Today I'm playing along with The Flower Challenge #28:  Pink and Gray, and in the process I've used a not-yet-used-enough stamp set and finished another special order anniversary card.  I may be disqualified and that's okay because I didn't realize until I was finished that it appears as though the hearts and "love" are the main focus, rather than the flowers.  Oops.

The card does have plenty of pink and gray.  The flowers are Power Poppy's Bee Kind Toile and the "Love" comes from Springtime Love.  I'll list all ingredients at the end.

I stamped in Memento London Fog and colored with Copics.  A scalloped oval formed the image panel, and a pretty Anna Griffin embossing folder made the base.  I smooshed white ink over the embossing to help it stand out more.  A tiny rhinestone is the only embellishment.

Inside I really mixed it up with sentiments from two other Power Poppy sets and flowers from Bee Kind Toile.  I think a mom can say this to her son and daughter-in-law on their anniversary.

So... another thing... I've undertaken the huge project of scanning old photos and scrapbook pages and turning them into Shutterfly photo books.  The photos will be better preserved and much easier to store.  While I was making my pink and gray card I remembered this photo from 1985, a mere 34 years ago, give or take a few months.

I remember the pink and gray sweater that I loved so much.  I remember the earrings I wore with it.  I remember the occasion and place -- our anniversary weekend at a nearby beach resort.  I remember how we were playing Trivial Pursuit in the afternoon and laughing so hard the proprietors knocked on our door and asked us to hold down the noise.  Hey, I like to laugh and I've enjoyed a long marriage to a guy who can always make me laugh.

Funny how a little card can evoke so many memories.

Thanks for letting me share.  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Bee Kind Toile, Springtime Love, Azalea, Dynamic Duos:  Tulips and Peonies  Paper:  Neenah Classic White, SU Pink Pirouette, Bazzill grays  Ink:  Memento London Fog, Pink Pirouette, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Rhinestone, 3/4" circle punch, Cuttlebug Anna Griffin Wildflower Gate embossing folder  Dies:  Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Ovals, Tutti Designs Stitched Nesting Hearts

January Twofer Challenge: Birds

It's Twofer Challenge time, friends!  I've enjoyed the unique concept of this challenge and played along most every month since its beginning, but it just got a whole lot more fun for me because, happy day, I've joined the team!  Thank you so much for having me on your very creative team of crafters, Darnell!  This month's challenge is Birds, so, let's get started, shall we?

Use the same stamp, die, or stencil to make two cards with two completely different designs for two different occasions.  Please take at least one photo of the two cards together and link that photo up with the challenge.  In December Darnell took the time to write up a thorough explanation of the challenge concept.

My samples both use the same bird stamp.  One is a birthday card and the other is Christmas.

I used a Penny Black stamp set called Touch of Whimsy.  The birthday card has the bird in it's original form, complete with pretty flower bedecked cage.

A totally different design for the Christmas card, with the cage cut away so you see only the bird and present.  Very clean and simple.  She looks like a Christmas bird, doesn't she?  All supplies are listed below my signature.

Whether you go conventional or get super creative with unconventional designs, it's a fun challenge.  Pop over to our Twofer Card Challenge #12:  Birds to get ideas, leave some love, and play along.  Enjoy your day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Touch of Whimsy, SU Warm Words on Christmas card  Paper:  Neenah 110 lb white, Echo Park Fine and Dandy DP on birthday card, Memory Box Yuletide DP on Christmas card  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Stickles Stardust glitter glue  Dies for birthday card:  Memory Box Wrapped Stitched Frames, Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets  Dies for Christmas card:  Memory Box Stitched Circle Layers and Stitched Scalloped Circles, Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets and Ric Rac Borders

Twinkling Sunflowers Just for Fun

Welcome to Week Two of 2019!  As I hop around the blogs I've been reading of resolutions.  Have you made any?  I always start out with good intentions regarding stamping, but you know what they say about resolutions -- they're made to be broken.  Come what may, I do plan, as always, to make my way through the not-yet-used supplies, so I've watercolored one of my Christmas presents today:  Whimsy Stamps Stained Glass Sunflower.

It's a beautiful thing that makes the whole card, so I simply mounted it on white and added a skinny sentiment.  The image was stamped with Versamark ink and embossed in black.  Painted with Twinkling H2Os and just enough shading in certain areas to avoid a flat look to the overall image.

It twinkles so prettily in the sunlight, but sunlight was nowhere to be seen when I took the pictures.  Must move along, rather than wait for a sunny day.  After turning it every which way, the photo below is the best I could do.

Take my word, it twinkles!  Have a fabulous day!

Stamps:  Whimsy Stamps Stained Glass Sunflower, Stampin' Up! retired birthday sentiment  Paper:  Arches 140 lb hot pressed watercolor, SU Whisper White  Ink:  Versamark  Coloring:  Twinkling H2Os  Accessories:  Black embossing powder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Spellbinders January Small Die of the Month

Hi there!  Keeping the crafting momentum going...  Do the holidays knock the stuffing out of you the way they do me?  It was a longer than anticipated Christmas break, but I'm happily getting back into the swing of card crafting.  Today I have cards for kids courtesy of the January Spellbinders Small Die of the Month.

Have you ever looked at their Small Die of the Month Club?  It's a sweet deal, actually.  Every month a new set of small dies with big possibilities.  As I investigated and became more familiar with the club I was surprised that it's never just one die, but a whole set of dies the perfect size for cards.  If you don't want the particular set of the month, you have the option to click and skip.  More information here.

First, a birthday card:

As it happens, this die set tickled my fancy, considering the three little girls next door and many friends wanting cards for kids.  It was like playing with paper dolls.  Do they still make paper dolls?

My second card is for a kids' Christmas.  It's never too soon to get started, is it?  I know... groan... we just finished!  With a little change here and there, the Christmas card could be turned into a Valentine.

Peace on earth... it's a nice thought.  These kids aren't exactly dressed for the cold weather, but when they woke up and found the landscape had changed overnight into a winter wonderland they got all excited and ran outside.  Popped their heads back through the window -- created by nesting Spellbinders Scored and Pierced Rectangles.   Overhead the window blind has a ruffled edge made with the girl's skirt ruffle x 3, and a blind pull courtesy of the balloon string.  Fun stuff!

Many thanks to Spellbinders for giving me the opportunity to play with this month's adorable Small Die of the Month set, and thank you for helping me start off a new year of crafting.  Have a happy day!

Double D 3rd Anniversary Challenge: It's on the Menu

Hello, and happy new year!  Our first Double D challenge of the year is a biggie, as we're wasting no time starting off with a celebration.  It's a 3rd anniversary party with prizes galore.  I'll be offering a prize, too, which I'll tell about at the end of this post.  But first, our challenge is "It's on the Menu" -- anything you might find on a menu, whether sweet or savory, in a glass or on a plate.

I made a strawberry cake with Power Poppy's Tea in the Garden set, watercolored with Tombow markers.

Here's our mouth-watering inspiration board:

Pictured below are three different prizes Diane and Darlene are offering up for three random challenge winners.  Double D is not a sponsored challenge.  The prizes always come from the DD's own good hearts.  As always, there will be creative winners, as well, who are also eligible for the random prize draws.

I made a point of dipping into some older papers for the card design.  I tend to reach for whatever's near the front of the bins and the rest gets neglected.  I thought these retired Stampin' Up! papers looked fresh and yummy with the cake.

Since I didn't have just the right gingham ribbon in just the right color, I made my own with an old Hero Arts stamp and SU's Certainly Celery ink to match the paper.  For a sentiment that fit my design I used one from Power Poppy's Party Time set.  I'll give a full list of supplies below my signature.

Still with me?

Now, for the prize I'm offering...

A $25 gift certificate to the online store of your choice.

The Double D Challenge has been a wonderful experience for me.  Diane and Darlene make sure of that.  This is my way of giving back to them and to all our supportive players who treat us twice a month with delightful creations.  I will do a random draw from among our "It's on the Menu" challenge players.

Please play in the challenge to be eligible!

Winner will be announced on the Double D blog on January 15.

Be sure and visit Double D to read full challenge details.  Also, hop around to my teamies' blogs because you never know where you may find another prize.  Good luck, and have a happy day!

Stamps:  Power Poppy "Tea in the Garden" and "Party Time", Hero Arts ribbon stamp  Paper:  Arches 140 lb hot pressed watercolor, textured white, SU Whisper White, retired SU designer paper  Ink:  Ranger Archival Shadow Gray for image and Watering Can for sentiment, Tombow markers for watercoloring  Accessories:  Doodlebug Matte Sprinkles  Dies:  Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets, Die-namics Stitched Cover Up Companion, Spellbinders Nested Lacy Pennants