Wildflower Meadow on Goldens and Garden

A new post on Goldens and Garden today:

Sharing pictures from July before I start on the August pics.  We just returned from a long trip and I have many photos to go through.  I hope to resume normal stamping activity soon, too.  Thank you so much for stopping by!

Double D Challenge: Pearls, Gems, or Rhinestones

Welcome to another Double D Challenge!  Have a look at our mood board:

When Darlene said "Pearls, Gems, or Rhinestones" I felt it was a good time to use up something that's been lingering in my stash for a few years.  I'm not a very blingy girl these days, but I still like looking at it.  You can't help but notice the large pearl flourish on my sample card, can you?

This card is a bit much for me, frankly, but it's just right for my friend who's always asking for anniversary cards.  I used the Power Poppy Summer Berries stamp set.  It has a "Happy anniversary" sentiment with it which I used inside, and I figured this sentiment on the front expresses one of those things that makes a marriage work.

The berries are watercolored with a mix of Stampin' Up! and Tombow markers.  The stitched hearts are dies, the smaller hearts are a punch.  I added gloss to all the hearts except the largest one.  Remind me not to fussy cut these berries next time.  Sheesh, my index finger doth protest!

This is one of my pre-made card fronts using OLD Prima Fairy Flora designer paper.  It's a favorite piece in the background, and a least favorite piece for the oval frame.  Love the berries, but I'd like to see them on their own CAS card.  Sigh... it is what it is.

Check out beautiful team samples at Double D and then share yours in the gallery.  Love to see you there!  Have a wonderful day!

Stella has Something to Say

Hello there!  Just fun stuff today -- two of Bugaboo's Stella digi-stamps which I colored on our camping trip in July.

Remind me never to become as cynical as Stella (and to wear a better bra).  Stella Glue Stick:

Frame it - Stella - If You're Happy:

I'm down to only *four*(!) Bugaboos which have been printed and sitting in the box for several years.  It feels like an accomplishment about to happen!  I wonder how long before I finish up?  So many stamps waiting...  Enjoy your day!

Twofer Card Challenge #19: Nautical

It's Twofer Challenge Time again and we're going NAUTICAL!  That's our prompt this time around -- now through the 24th.  Darnell will explain everything about her ideas for this prompt on the Twofer Blog, and the awesome team samples will give you something to think about, as well.

I went with an iconic image of the ocean shore -- the lighthouse.  My stamp in common is a PSX dated 1999.  Holy cow, 20 years!  I purge my stamp collection regularly, but this one has survived because it's the only lighthouse I have.  I've made a birthday card and a sympathy card.

The birthday card is stamped in Memento London Fog, colored with Copics on Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar white, and designed with Mintay Marina papers.  It has a bright and cheerful look with a few different things going on in the layout.  The sentiments are from a couple of different Power Poppy sets.

The sympathy card is stamped in Ranger Archival (Wendy Vecchi) Shadow Grey ink and watercolored on 140 lb Fabriano Artistico Extra White watercolor paper.  This paper is definitely whiter than most WC papers, but not an extreme white.  Behind it is SU's Whisper White.  The difference between these two whites is negligible enough for it to work without much contrast.  Most importantly is that the Fabriano is excellent quality paper.

For the sympathy card I made a simple design with very soft coloring.  I used Tombow markers which can give me either a very vibrant look or this dilute, faded look.  The image panel is cut with Spellbinders Scored and Pierced Rectangles, and an Amy Design Fishing Net gives texture to the background.

That's it for my Twofer contribution.  Glad I had something I could color for this prompt.  It's an old stamp, but the image is ageless.

Hop over to the Twofer Challenge Blog and see what the team and our Guest Designer, Natalie, are sharing.  Great stuff there!  Read Darnell's explanation of the prompt and the rules, and then see what you can come up with.  We'd love to have you join us in the gallery.  Have a wonderful day!

Camping!

Hey there!  I'm on Goldens and Garden with camping pics today.

Thank you!

A Happy Hello

Before we leave on our next trip I was hoping to make cards with the things I colored on our previous camping trip.  Sounds easy enough, right?  Well, this one required a few extra parts so it took me a while to get around to it, but it's done now... with plenty of cheery yellow and white and a most adorable stamp set which I love all the more because I waited a year(?) to purchase it -- WPlus9 Hello & Thanks.

I colored with Copics on watercolor paper, and when we returned home I cut the images with the companion die set.  Arranged on an Impression Obsession frame and an embossed die cut panel.  I used one of my smallest Beauty Kate make up blending brushes to smudge ink onto each embossed dot.  Added a rhinestone flourish for steam because I might as well use those up and, gosh, what a cute embellishment it made!

There's plenty of texture and dimension, but it's still an easy to mail card.  Sweet!

I'll have more with this set later as I colored enough for two cards plus their insides.  I may not do as much, if any, coloring on our August trip.  I'll take supplies, but we'll be on the move a lot, road tripping and exploring interesting sites along the way.  If you don't hear from me for a while you'll know I'm somewhere awesome.  I do have a few posts scheduled for this month... just so you don't forget me, sniff sniff.

Supply list below my signature.  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  WPlus9 Hello & Thanks (with companion die set)  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico 140 lb extra white watercolor, Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, PTI Lemon Tart  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Oxide Scattered Straw  Coloring:  Copics  Accessories:  Cuttlebug Seeing Spots embossing folder, rhinestone flourish, dimensional foam dots, Impression Obsession All-In-One Frames-Oval, Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets