Birds and Blooms

Hello friends!  I'm sharing four cards today that made me very happy as I was working on them.  I was the 100th entry in the first Triple B (birds, butterflies, and blooms) challenge and was surprised with the most beautiful 6x6 designer paper pad for my efforts.  Thank you, Diane and Darlene!  There is not one sheet of paper in that pad that I'm not totally in love with.

The gorgeous paper is Dress My Craft Hydrangea Lawns.  Have a look:

I've been saying over and over again how I need to get to work with some of my designer papers.  Still, I dragged my feet.  I don't know why something suddenly clicked when I saw a card set on Pinterest.  I'll link you to the post here.  I guess the timing was right.  When you look at the inspiration I'm sure you can see the resemblance, but I diverged quite a lot in order to accommodate the pattern of my papers.  I chose a few different bird dies from my collection, some of which have been around for a few years.  I'm in the process of collecting new bird dies.  All in good time.

The first in the line up features a Cottage Cutz die called Bird Trio.  It's a simple die, all one piece.  I layered 2 or 3 times (?) plus cut again and trimmed out the bird bodies, then colored and glued back in place.  The years old Hero Arts sentiment was white embossed on SU Brilliant Blue cardstock.  Not sure if they even still make that color.  It coordinates nicely with the blues in the designer paper.

Next up is one of the oldest bird dies in the group -- Die-namites Birds on a Wire.  I think they're out of business.  I brushed the birds with purple and blue, then spritzed with water.  The leafy branch was borrowed from another die set which is coming up in a moment.  Another Hero Arts sentiment on this card.

The third card, below, seems rather sparse because the scripted background is so light, but I like it.  More purple and blue on this one.  The bird and foliage are Memory Box Finnegan Fronds from 2015.  The stitched ring is nested Memory Box Stitched Circle Layers from the same year.

The last card features Memory Box Serene Bird and Branch.  I adore this sweet bird.  This photo has an unfortunate glare because the paper has a bit of gloss to it.  It's all the more beautiful for it in real life.  Quite a substantial weight, too.

I'm a designer paper-loving girl all the way.  I know how much fun it is to make your own backgrounds, but I'm not good at resisting a beautiful set of papers, and since I have them I really should be using them.  Raise your hand if you love designer papers, too.

Sending happy wishes your way!

Lavinia Pheasant

Hi!  I didn't want to let the month slip by without having another try at a Lavinia card.  So here we go -- lots of color, a hilly landscape.  I'm thinking it's earliest spring, just like here.  All the trees are not leafed out yet.  A little bit real, a little bit fantasy, a whole lot of fun.

My card is 4 1/2 x 6 with Stampin' Up inks blended on Stathmore Mixed Media Vellum Surface cardstock.  The colors are fairly limited -- just green, blue, magenta, plus the neutrals.   The black is Memento Tuxedo Black.  The tree trunks were colored with Copics.  The landscape is a mix of die cut curves and torn paper for masking.  I keep several masks in a drawer and use them over and over.

After the scene was complete I gave it a little spritz with shimmer/sparkle spray.  Not sure you can see it very well in either photo, but it's pretty in real life.  The sentiment is retired Power Poppy.

There's always something more to learn with these stamps and I'll keep at it.  I'll list the Lavinia stamps below.  I'm glad you could stop by today and I hope to see you again soon!

Lavinia stamps:  LAV092 Pheasant, LAV643 Tree Stem, LAV505 Spanish Moss Foliage, LAV530 Skeleton Tree Scene, LAV097 Birds, LAV151 Slender Mushrooms Mini, LAV679 Foliage Set, LAV695 Foliage Set 2

Christmas Gnomes

 

Hi friends!  It all started with the Peace On Earth Challenge #38.

Gnomes will be gnomes... just having a little party.  This is not a Christmas stamp at all, but I tried to turn it into one after I saw the inspiration board at the Peace on Earth challenge.  There is not a snowflake in sight because the truth is I'm more likely to see green grass outside my Christmas window here on the southern Oregon coast.  I would not be likely to see beer-drinking gnomes wallowing in our grass, but the grass would be green.

I gave my card a Christmas sentiment with an unrelated stamp and die combo.  The die said "cheers", but I snipped off the "s".  Added some poinsettia trim which is not actually poinsettias, but it appears so to me.  It's an older Memory Box die set called Seraphine Laurel.

Pictured below is the sentiment combo I used inside the card.  Part of it came with the gnomes (guess which part), and the rest is retired Stampin' Up.  Too irreverent for Christmas?  I'm sure it will be just right for someone.

That's the last of my not-yet-colored gnome stamps.  These days I seem to balk at coloring stamps with a lot of detail.   Times, they are a'changing but, gosh, these guys sure are cute!

• Since my gnomes are a first time use I'll share in Darnell's NBUS Challenge #49 -- Never before used schtuff.
• I would also like to play along in the Christmas Kickstart Challenge #73 -- Gnome for Christmas.  My first time to play in this challenge.  It looks like fun!
• Another new-to-me challenge is Christmas Craft Creations.  Their April challenge theme is humor.

  

That's a lot of challenges for me, but everything just fit.  Enjoy your day!

Stamps:  Stamping Bella Two Gnomes Under a Keg, other SU sentiments (old)  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, SU Poppy Parade and Old Olive  Ink:  Palette Noir, SU Poppy Parade inside  Coloring:  Tombow markers and blender  Other:  Golden Rod and Xmas Red Stickles, SU Subtle 3D embossing folder (retired), Spellbinders Hemstitch Rectangles, Memory Box Cheers Script, Memory Box Seraphine Laurel

Double D Challenge: Things that Fly

 

Hello you!  Time for a new challenge at Double D.  It's Darlene's turn to create an inspiration board and I love what she came up with.  Things that Fly.

I thought it would be fun to go fly a kite, so I die cut one from designer paper and added it to a framed scene.  There's a cute little Penny Black critter flying his own kite, too.  I used bits and pieces for the scene, including a scalloped ridge on the hillside.  Hey, when it's your own scene you can imagine it any way that suits your fancy.

I'm listing all ingredients below my signature, but I do want to mention the blue sky background.  I used my Memory Box Waves 3D embossing folder for that.  When you turn the waves upside down they do give the impression of wind.  Not that you can actually see wind. I used a lightly shaded watercolor piece from my bag o' backgrounds for the windy sky.

Here's a prize for this challenge:

We vote for creative winners, too.  Come share with us on the Double D blog.  The team has plenty of delightful inspiration for you.  Enjoy!

Stamps:  Penny Black Critter Fun, Sizzix Sending You Sunshine stamp and die set  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press waterclor, Neenah 80# white, BasicGrey Origins designer paper (long since retired)  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Close to Cocoa  Coloring:  Copics  Dies:  Sizzix Sending You Sunshine stamp and die set, MFT Die-namics Woodgrain Fence, Spellbinders A2 Curved Borders One  Other:  Wink of Stella, Memory Box Waves 3D embossing folder, Cuttlebug Heritage Frame embossing folder

Pretty Garden Bird

Hello!  Back to basics today with something clean and simple.  I've been a little under the weather for a week or so and crafting has been a struggle no matter how willing the spirit is.  I thought a simple watercolored card might be just the ticket.

I used my Stampin' Up inks for this.  It's been a long time since I did that.  Drop ink in the lid of the stamp pad and use it like a palette.  Every coloring medium gives you something different.  I relaxed with this and, flaws and all, I like it!

The stamp is Penny Black Chirping, from their latest release.  I'm a fan, for sure.  The sentiment is an older PB set called To You.  I drew a border and added a few gems.  The card is 4 1/2 x 6.

That was just what I needed.

• The keyword at Addicted to CAS Challenge #235 is Garden.  I keep several bird feeders and birdbaths fresh at all times and cannot imagine my garden without the feathered friends who visit them.
• I'm also playing along at Triple B (birds, butterflies, and blooms).  They have an inspiration board but not required to follow it.
• Finally, I'm sharing at Darnell's NBUS Challenge #49 (never before used schtuff).  First time out of the package for my PB Chirping stamp.

  

Thank you so much for stopping by today.  I sure hope we can do this again soon!

Stamps:  Penny Black Chirping, Penny Black To You  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor  Ink:  Palette Noir, fine tip black pen for border  Coloring:  Watercolor with Stampin' Up inks  Other:  Honey Bee Log Cabin gems

Spellbinders Stylish Ovals Collection

Hello friends, and welcome back to my stamp room.  I'm a bit late getting the week started with everything being somewhat upside down and backwards at my house, but it's beginning to look like that's our new right side up and forward.  However, all is well in my Happy Place, and the view out my window is gradually changing to spring, even though it's a rainy one.  I believe that's what influenced me to make such springy cards with the new Spellbinders Stylish Ovals Collection.

(Many thanks to Yana and Spellbinders for sharing the product with me so I can share with you!)

There's much more to this collection than what I'm showing you here, but it's a start.  I chose three products to work with:

• Stylish Oval Birthday Wishes stamp set
• Essential Stylish Ovals die set
• Infinity Punch & Pierce Plate

Gee, I think I have some new favorite things.  For the first card I popped out the center of the punched and pierced panel and replaced it with a smaller plain white oval which allowed a border of blue to show.  I arranged the hand cut flowers over that with the sentiment and a sprinkling of clear gems.

I put those popped out parts from the first card to work on the second card with more hand cut flowers.  A little snip snip on one end of the flowers changed the look just a bit.   I hand cut the sentiment, too, and made a label for it with the smallest oval.  Blended a background panel (I must have been thinking of Easter eggs), added some gems... pretty!

For the next card I left the punched and pierced panel intact by using the die on 110 lb cardstock.  I carefully glued it onto the card front before any little pieces fell out.  I gold embossed the flowers and did even more snip snipping on these.  The two single flowers are a separate stamp in the set.  You can't see it in the photo, but I did the larger flower spray decoupage style -- there is a whole other flower spray underneath, colored and cut out, and the top layer is popped up.  Again, I hand cut the sentiment as well.

Well, that was fun.  I'm pretty sure I'll be going back for more from the Stylish Ovals Collection.  There are two items in particular...  It's just that they all work together so well.

See you again soon!

Double D Challenge: April Showers

Hello crafty friends!  It's Double D Challenge time and the board Diane created is irresistibly cute:

Gosh, look at all the possibilities.  I would have loved a red umbrella, but I made mine yellow with white polka dots like the boots in order to have more contrast with the fox.  He's from a Rubbernecker set I used a lot last spring.  The diagonal lines of the card base remind me of rain.  There was a lot of fun in the making of this card.

There is a prize for a random winner, and the team votes on creative favorites.

You don't want to miss the team's inspiring cards on display at Double D.  I hope we'll see you in the gallery!

Stamps:  Rubbernecker Fox Set  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 110 lb, SU Pool Party, Park Lane printed cardstock for card base  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Dies:  Frantic Stamper Rainy Day Necessities (umbrella), Poppystamps Stitched Cloudline, MFT Die-namics Stitched Rectangle Frames  Other:  Nuvo Simply White Crystal Drops, foam mounting tape