Candy Cane Mouse

Season's greetings!  Moving right along, I have two quick cards today.  I say quick because some of the parts were already made and awaiting their turn to be on a card.  Both cards feature the Cottage Cutz Candy Cane Mouse.  The sentiment is Cottage Cutz also.  Ready and waiting was the snowflake embossed background, a beautiful folder I've had for years.  I'd smooshed with white pigment ink to bring out the pattern in a soft and snowy way.

The mouse was brushed with inks to color.  Copics in some of the small parts.  Easy enough to make two of them.

For the second card, the base is 111 lb patterned cardstock which I'd previously cut and folded into a card.  I topped it with the already made Penny Black Crystal Frames(s).  I had also cut the frame with a separate stitched rectangle as the Crystal Frame does not cut an outer edge.  Placed the mouse on the inside edge of the frame, added a sentiment -- done!

Those spare card parts do help move things along when I remember to use them.  Merry merry!  Thank you for taking the time to visit!

Double D Challenge -- Christmas Trees

Hello!  It's Double D Challenge time again.  Maybe you need a last minute Christmas card?  That's the name of my game this year.  However, I see the light at the end of the tunnel.  It's a good thing I love making the cards, but it would be nice if everything else would slow down while the work is in progress.

Darlene has created an inspiring board for us today, all about the Christmas tree.  That's a fun subject!  See the board and a prize that's up for a random winner:

 

As always, the team votes on creative favorites.  You all don't make it easy with so many fabulous choices!

My eyes went straight to the wheelbarrow on the inspiration board, knowing I had a similar Power Poppy stamp.  It's called Season's Greenings.  I stamped on extra white watercolor paper and colored with Tombow markers and blender.

The wheelbarrow and Santa are two separate stamps.  I hand cut Santa and placed him down front to create more of a scene.  The background die is Spellbinders Infinity Punch & Pierce Plate.  It's not a Christmas die but I liked it for the eyelet-type openings resembling leaves with the green card base peeking through.  Festive guy that he is, Santa has decorated the garden with red and gold tinsel ropes.  Apparently he loves glitter and that's a good thing because so does the friend I sent this to.

The team has more inspiration for you on the challenge blog, and we'd love to see your Christmas tree creation in the Double D gallery if you have the time.  Be merry!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Season's Greenings  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Neenah white 80 lb, SU Garden Green card base  Ink:  Ranger Archival Watering Can, SU Garden Green and Bashful Blue  Coloring:  Tombow markers and blender  Dies:  Spellbinders Essential Arches, Infinity Punch & Pierce Plate, Memory Box Tinsel Ropes  Other:  Stickles Xmas Red, Golden Rod, Patina glitter glue, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

'Tis the Season for Amaryllis

I feel as though I haven't been coloring enough lately, especially flowers, but that is going to change.  I've colored my Power Poppy Amaryllis Bliss today, no longer available as a stamp, but the digi, simply called Amaryllis, can be found here.  Such a pretty thing!

For a no-line result I stamped the flowers in Memento Rosebud and colored with Copics, then carefully hand cut.  I placed the flowers face down on a foam pad and ran my blunt stylus over them to shape. Stamped the evergreen foliage onto a half oval and added that to the embossed panel.  Mounted the flowers with thin foam tape.  That's the quickie version.

I like the cute little Poppystamps sentiment banner.

When all was said and done I added Stickles Stardust glitter glue to the petal edges so I could play along in The Flower Challenge and, of course, I couldn't resist the gorgeous Triple B mood board.  

The Flower Challenge -- Add sparkle
Triple B Challenge -- Birds, blooms, or butterflies

 

I really appreciate your visit today.  I've fallen behind but I'll catch up.  Merriest wishes!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Amaryllis Bliss, Poppystamps Christmas Banners  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb  Ink:  Memento Rosebud for Amaryllis, Stampin' Up Garden Green for foliage, Memento Tuxedo Black for sentiment  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Spellbinders Tiled Motif 3D embossing folder, Spellbinders Essential Stylish Ovals, Stickles Stardust glitter glue, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Noel Deer

Happy Friday, friends!  One last deer card today and then moving on.  Would you believe that at this late stage I still have 10 Christmas cards yet to make?  It's a personal challenge, but if I fail I won't be too hard on myself.

For today's card I brought out some of last years favorites -- Tim Holtz Papercut Christmas #2 and Big Tidings.  I arranged them on some favorite Christmas designer paper which I crimped with Spellbinders Fluted Classics Rectangles.

I made the deer and sentiment from colored cardstock and didn't even add any shading except on the lower part of the letters.  There are three sparkly stars for accent and a tree decorated with baubles made from punched circles and dimensional glaze.

I'll catch you here again next week.  Merry merry!

Cheer Deer

 Hello!  Another day, another deer card...  Today it's Cottage Cutz dies -- Holiday Reindeer and Birch Trees -- from one of the fantastic sales at The Scrapping Cottage.  These are two favorite dies for sure.  I think the reindeer with presents is so pretty!

I sponged blue ink on the card base and masked an area for the snow.  Reindeer & presents are colored with Copics, birch trees were stamped with an old SU background stamp called Weathered Wood.  It's one of the easiest cards I've done this year and one of my favorites.

I'm still trying to get the rest of the cards in the mail.  You know how time consuming a job that is, and something else always comes up.  I persevere.

Happy holidays!

Stamps:  Penny Black Joy & Warmth sentiment  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb  Ink:  SU Bashful Blue, Going Gray, Memento Rich Cocoa  Coloring:  Copics  Dies:  Cottage Cutz Holiday Reindeer, Birch Trees

Deer Friend

Hello again!  Moving right along toward Christmas with another deer card to send to a "deer" friend.  This one is a small Penny Black set called Hello Deer.  It's not new on the market, but new to me.  Sometimes you just know when a stamp needs to come home with you.

I colored with Copics and framed with an older Spellbinders set.  Embellished with a mix of dies.  Added glitter.  I brushed ink around the edges of the image panel and the card base.

Challenges:

Peace on Earth has a beautiful mood board.  Every part of it inspires a card, but today it's the magnificent stag in the upper left corner.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge -- The optional theme is "winter wonderland".  I like playing the themes and will hope to do that before the challenge ends.  I can always use another Christmas card.

NBUS Challenge #69  -- My never before used schtuff is the Hello Deer stamp set.

  

Thanks for visiting!  Happy holidays!

Stamps:  Penny Black Hello Deer  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80#, brown Bazzill card base, other scraps  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Creamy Caramel and Close to Cocoa  Coloring:  Copics  Dies:  Spellbinders Devine Eleoquence and Labels Twenty Eight, Impression Obsession Pine Pair, Tim Holtz Holiday Greens Mini, Poppystamps Prim and Proper Bow  Other:  Stickles Xmas Red, Golden Rod, Patina glitter glue

Whittle Reindeer

Hello there!  I took a short blog break over Thanksgiving time and then kicked off December with some scheduled posts.  Our son was visiting, which was very nice, but otherwise it feels like I'm going a lot of different directions, so... break time.  I'm much better now, thank you.

While I was away from the blog I made a few Christmas cards focusing on the not-yet-used Christmas themed deer dies and stamps in my collection.   I have to say I had a lot of fun with it.  Today I'm sharing two cards using the Poppystamps Whittle Forest Reindeer Kit.  It's dated 2021, but please don't tell me it's been in my NBUS basket all this time, sheesh.

Pictured below are deer and trees from the kit.  All other dies, including the sentiment, are Poppystamps as well.  I dressed up the trees with white acrylic paint and microfine glitter.  Put the scene on a plum card base which I embossed with the SU Subtle embossing folder.  The hills and clouds are fit together rather than layered.  Just making sure to keep it under one ounce.

For the next card I framed the scene, but have it spilling out of the frame as well.  The inside is set into the frame, rather than the frame sitting on top.  Again, keeping dimension minimal and weight under an ounce.  Woodgrain cardstock base.  I especially love the Impression Obsession Birch Tree Rectangle (frame).  I'm sorry that Impression Obsession has gone out of business.  They had good dies and stamps.  This frame is new to me.  I can tell it's going to be a favorite.

Challenges today:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #93 -- If it's Christmassy, link it up!
NBUS Challenge #69 -- My never before used schtuff is the Whittle Forest Reindeer Kit and the Birch Tree Rectangle.

 

That's all for today.  More deer coming soon.  Happy Holidays!

Double D Challenge: Christmas Ornaments

Hi, friends!  Here we are at the start of December and the countdown to Christmas.  Many of you have probably already put some Christmas cards in the mail.  The first of mine went out this morning.  However, I'm still making them, too, and Diane is helping us along with her theme for the Double D Challenge  -- Christmas Ornaments.  The mood board gives us some pretty inspiration, and you can see the beautiful ornament die which will go to a random winner.  Creative winners are voted on by the team.

 

I saw a hint of blue in the board and decided to go with that for my Cottage Cutz ornaments.  It's one ornament die with a variety of ways you can decorate it.  I ink blended with brushes, added the silver accents, and hung them on an ornament-embossed background using a rearranged string and bow from a Memory Box die set.

Silver stars, silver sentiment... the embossing folder is a Darice oldie called Ornament/Star/Snowflake.  The sentiment is Cottage Cutz.  I do take advantage of their extreme sales at The Scrapping Cottage.

Come on over and see all the pretty ornament inspiration at Double D.  We'd love to see yours in the gallery.  Have a beautiful day!

Stamps:  None except inside sentiment  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, silver mirror cardstock  Ink:  Stampin Up Taken with Teal and Not Quite Navy  Coloring:  Inks and blending brushes  Dies:  Cottage Cutz Old Fashioned Ornament 2, CC Merry Christmas, Memory Box Precious Hearts (bows & string), MFT stars, Very old Cuttlebug ornaments embossing folder

Guest Designing with A Cut Above Challenge: Anything Goes

Hello friends!  Today I have the privilege of guest designing with Vicki and team over at A Cut Above.  It's a die cut challenge blog which is fairly recently on the scene, but it's taken off and been a lot of fun for everyone.

The "anything goes" theme for December is nice and easy, no pressure in this busy time.  You can go straight to this month's challenge by clicking ---- HERE.

My card is die cuts all the way and I chose a Christmas theme because it was high time to get the cards done.  A few Tim Holtz products came together and played nicely.

The poinsettia is Holiday Brushstroke #3 and the big joy is from Big Tidings, stars included.  I used the TH Lumber 3D embossing folder on the card base.  It's nice to know I can have wood grain cardstock whenever I take a notion.  I do have a thing for wood grain on cards.  Stickles glitter glue added holiday sparkle to the stars.  As always, prettier than the picture.

Come play with us.   Vicki offers a prize, but I'll let you read more details on the A Cut Above blog.  Thank you for visiting today.  Happy holidays!

Stamps:  None  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, Memory Box Christmas Plaid designer paper  Ink:  Various Stampin' Up for brushing on color  Other:  Tim Holtz Sizzix Holiday Brushstroke #3 and Big Tidings, TH Sizzix Lumber 3D embossing folder, Stickles Stardust glitter glue

Baby Girl

Oh, my gosh, it's been forever since I made a baby card, and I have to say this was so much fun for a change!  It had to be done.  My friend is expecting a great-grandbaby girl so she asked for a card to celebrate the occasion.

I have a lot of baby stamps, papers, dies, you name it.  My head was swimming, but I couldn't put it all on one card, even if it is a rare opportunity these days.  I narrowed it down one by one, changing my mind several times along the way.  Made a whole other card, didn't like it, started over... then settled on the following:

It was easy to choose a very old and still favorite Rubbernecker stamp, name unknown as it came to me unpackaged.  I stamped in Memento London Fog and colored softly with Copics.  Added a cute sentiment from a Power Poppy set.  The pink scallops and banner are gingham designer paper.  The flowers are punched, the leaves die cut.  I punched 1/8" gray circles for the flower centers and applied Stickles Stardust glitter glue.  Spellbinders Hydrangea Blooms 2D embossing folder provided a leafy mat with tiny blooms to match the punched flowers.

No challenges today, not even NBUS (never before used schtuff).  Just feeling the fun and a great appreciation for a roomful of crafty toys.  I'd better get back to the Christmas cards now.

See you again soon!

Stamps:  Rubbernecker baby carriage name unknown, Power Poppy Precious Baby  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, pale pink Bazzill card base, SU Going Gray, MFT Homespun Gingham designer paper  Ink:  Memento London Fog, Ranger Archival Watering Can  Dies:  Lawn Fawn Outside In Stitched Scalloped Rectangle Stacklets, Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets, La-La Land Random Flags Banner, Impression Obsession Leaf Cluster  Other:  Spellbinders Hydrangea Blooms 2D embossing folder, flower punch, 1/8" circle punch, Stickles Stardust glitter glue

Double D Challenge: Winter

 

Hello friends!  Is it cold yet where you are?  We're feeling the chill here on the Oregon coast.  Double D Darlene is asking us to "Get Ready for Winter" today.  The inspiration board makes me shiver just looking at it:

 

When you visit the challenge blog you'll learn about the prize that's up a random winner (pictured below).  There are always creative winners as well.

Brrrr.  The two friends I chose to depict on my card are perfectly happy to be sitting in the snow, gazing at the stars above.  I think they're the sweetest -- Penny Black Star Gazing Friends.

First, I want to tell you about the sentiment.  It comes from the inside of a commercial Christmas card which I received as a gift from a charity to which we donate.  Ordinarily I pass those cards along to a friend, but this time I thought I might like to use some of the inside sentiment panels.  There is dark printing on the back of the panel which could be seen easily when held up to the light, so I had to layer the arch onto another arch and then mount it on a colored card base.  It worked out fine.

Aren't they just perfect with the sentiment?   I stamped in Memento London Fog and ink blended the background.  By blending around the stars and characters it left just the right amount of glow.  Coloring was done with Prismacolor pencils because it was the only thing that worked on this paper.  Lastly, I sprayed lightly with sheer shimmer sparkle.

It's a simple card with no embellishment.  Just peaceful.

Come see all the chilly beauty the team is sharing at Double D.  I hope you'll find time to play along.  Happy holidays, including the upcoming Thanksgiving in the US.  Enjoy!

Stamps:  Penny Black Star Gazing Friends  Paper:  Main image panel cut from commercial card, sentiment included, Stampin' Up Night of Navy  Ink:  Memento London Fog, SU Bashful Blue and Night of Navy  Coloring:  Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol odorless mineral spirits  Other:  Spellbinders Essential Arches, Imagine Sheer Shimmer Sparkle spray, SU Subtle embossing folder for card base