Beautiful Birdhouse

Hello friends!  How about something flowerful as we head into the Easter weekend?  Before taking another step I wanted to color one of my many new Penny Black stamps... and, ohhh, I do mean many.  Yes, I indulged.  I was starting to lose sight of how much I enjoy coloring a beautiful stamp like this, and in keeping the card relatively simple I can eliminate "design fatigue" and do lots more coloring.  I learned the "design fatigue" term from Jill Foster during my late night crafty YouTube excursions.  I sure do suffer from it sometimes.  Do you ever?

The stamp I used today is from Penny Black's newest release.  It's called Birdhouse Beauty.  Aptly named.  It's a beauty alright!  The sentiment is also a new release set, Super Day.

I stamped in Memento Toffee Crunch on Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor paper and then colored with Tombow markers and homemade blender.  Over time this method has become my favorite for coloring flowers, though I still enjoy other methods as well.  Whatever fits or feels right at the time.   I brushed SU Creamy Caramel ink around the edges and finished with sequins.

I'd like to play along in the following challenges:

Triple B Challenge -- Birds, blooms, or butterflies
Penny Black Saturday Challenge -- Anything goes, optional Easter
NBUS Challenge #60  (Never before used schtuff)  My NBUS is the Penny Black Birdhouse Beauty and Super Day stamps.

  

In case anyone would like the recipe for homemade blender solution:

2 tsp glycerin
4 tsp distilled water
1/4 tsp 70% rubbing alcohol
Shake in a small bottle to mix.  Use eye dropper to fill blank Copic marker.

I'm out of time so I must rush off.  I keep trying to figure out where the hours go.  On top of all the other life stuff Sophie has started her obedience training and we have homework.  She's only had one session, but she's doing well.

Till next time, have a lovely weekend!

Stamps:  Penny Black Birdhouse Beauty cling stamp and Super Day sentiment set  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, PTI Dark Chocolate, textured kraft Bazzill  Ink:  Memento Toffee Crunch, Memento Rich Cocoa, SU Creamy Caramel  Coloring:  Tombow markers and homemade blender solution in blank Copic  Other:  Studio Katia sequins

Magnolia Easter

Hi there!  Big surprise, more Easter cards, but this time I stepped away from the cute cards so I could make something pretty with my Marvelous Magnolia 3D embossing folder & die set from Memory Box.  It has been sitting -- never yet used -- since last spring.  Shame on me, this pretty thing, tsk tsk.  I made two cards, one using the dies, and one without.

All the 3D embossing folders with or without dies are fascinating to me.  Such beautiful results.  The first card also uses a Memory Box Oval Master Frame, Impression Obsession Easter Joy sentiment, and ancient Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder.  I used sponge tip applicators to apply Distress Oxide inks to the flowers and sentiment.

The next picture shows the gloss on the sentiment.  I pressed the die cut into my Versamark pad and embossed with clear powder.

The second card is a simpler design, monotone mauve with touches of white.  I cut down the folder quite a bit to use on this mini-slimline.  The whole card base was embossed with SU's Subtle 3D embossing folder.  The tiny pearls are Nuvo drops, and the sentiment is an oldie from my stash.

Inside I used a trimmed off strip to decorate.  The sentiment is from a retired Power Poppy clear stamp set.

I'm heading over to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #60 again with my first time use of the Marvelous Magnolia folder.
Also playing along in Can You Handle the Pressure.  I did not do the optional twist, but I did use two different embossing folders.

 

It's a good feeling to know that almost every time I play with something new I'm also playing with several older things in the process.  I love my toys.  That said, I'm due for a purge and it never gets any easier (sob), but it's a necessity in my small room.

I've been in a rush these last few days, but I hope we can do this again real soon.  Have a happy day!

Double D Challenge: Green/Clover/Shamrocks/Luck

 

Hi, friends!  'Tis the month for green and even though St. Pat's day has come and gone, here at Double D we're still enjoying the color and a few other things normally associated with the day.  Green/clover/shamrocks/luck -- they deserve more time!

When I was little my brother and I spent plenty of time on a sunny day searching through a clover patch for that lucky four-leafer... feel the sun, smell the fresh green, savor the companionship.  Of course, it was commonplace then, but it's a cherished precious memory now.

Every day we make new memories and this little Mudpie House Mouse is one of mine.  When I first started stamping -- way back near the turn of this century -- my son gifted me a few carefully selected woodblock stamps for my birthday.  They mean a lot to me and I'll never purge them from my collection.  I had a good time coloring with Copics and playing with paper from the Memory Box 2023 Magnolia collection.

I punched hearts for some shamrock embellishments.  Added gold pearls, trim, and sentiment to coordinate with the gold in the patterned paper.  Cut a layered scallop with Fiskars Paper Edgers (scissors).  Does anybody still have those?

I mixed up the sentiments and I think it's okay.  It's my intention to use this as a birthday card with a sentiment inside that brings it all together.

Come join us on the Double D blog.  Read more details and see the prize.  The team has some fabulous cards to show you.  It'll be fun!

Take care of yourselves and I'll see you again soon!

Bunny in a Wreath

Hi!  Back to Easter today.  I have to confess, I'm feeling a bit of Easter card fatigue.  I know!  This makes card #5 and I'm already burned out?  So typical of me.  That's another good reason to work ahead on the holidays.  I don't even feel compelled to send out a lot of Easter cards.  It's just that I had a few things not yet used.

On today's card the not-yet-used products are the Tim Holtz Carrot Bunny die set and Tree Rings 3D embossing folder.  I've had both for many months (a year maybe?).  To my eyes the Tree Rings background is the coolest thing.

The wreath here is Tim Holtz, the flowers are Heartfelt Creations, the big sentiment is Impression Obsession.  All colored with inks and blending brushes.  The TH Carrot Bunny set and, in fact, most of the stamps and dies I used for Easter this year can be used for other occasions as well.  I cut and colored more of these bunnies and carrots but will save them for something else.

Okay, friends, I'm hopping along to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #60 with Carrot Bunny and Tree Rings.

I'll see you again shortly.  Have a happy day!

Green for a Day

Happy St. Patrick's day, friends!  I made just one card for the occasion.  Nothing but the oldies here.  These stamps and I go way back to the beginning and they still bring me joy.  This is the happiest leprechaun I've ever come across.

The gingham is cardstock so I made the whole card with it -- gingham front and back and a smidgen on the inside as well.  The sentiment inside is an oldie from Power Poppy.  It works for many occasions and I use it a lot.

I just wanted to pop in and wish you a happy day.  Don't forget to wear green... unless you actually want to get pinched.  Whatever suits your fancy.

Easter cards will resume shortly.  Take care!

Double Easter Bunnies

Hello again, friends!  Today's Easter bunnies are one of the Inky Antics stamp sets I recently purchased when I found their website.  I'm drawn to the Jane Miller designs as there's just something about her style with the critters.  Wherever Jane Miller is or was, I hope she knows she brought me and I'm sure many others a whole lot of smiles.

This set is called Carrot Bunny.  It has a Happy Easter sentiment with it, but it's not strictly an Easter set.  I used dies and an embossing folder to pretty up the scene.  I do love a splash of color on white.

Coloring was done with Copics on Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor paper.

There is not so much white in the next card, below.  It was a hot mess for a while.  Let's not go there.  I like everything about it, but the patterned paper background is too busy under the big sentiment and I keep picturing it on white and know I'd like it much better.  I love the bunny and think he'd be just as cute on a "thinking of you" card.

The frame on both cards was created by nesting Spellbinders Fluted Classic Rectangles, the grass is Impression Obsession, and the big sentiment, eggs, and flowers are a new-to-me Cottage Cutz die set called Happy Easter Phrase.  Oh, and the embossing folder is Spellbinders Floral Background.

There are some challenges I'd like to share in today:

Can You Handle the Pressure (use an embossing folder)-- Sending my first card there because it has the dry embossed background, but I did not use the optional twist of bling.
Word Power #3 (focus on the sentiment) -- Sending the second card there.  I hesitated because my eyes go straight to the bunny as the focal point, but there is that big sentiment which I had intended to use for this challenge.  It's fun to play along at any rate.
NBUS #60 (never before used schtuff) -- The bunny stamp set and the Cottage Cutz die set are both being used for the first time.

  

Thank you for coming to visit today.  I'll keep working on Easter cards, even if I don't manage to get them all sent out this year.  No pressure.  Just for fun.  Have a beautiful day!

Backsides and Frontsides

Hi!  I'm making Easter cards this year as I have a few not-yet-used items suitable for the occasion.  I'll start with the Cottage Cutz Bunny Backsides from one of last year's sales at Scrapping Cottage.

I see them as Easter bunnies, but I'm sure they could be used otherwise as well.  The set includes three different bunnies and the balloon.  I made extra bunnies and put together the rest of the card with supplies from my stash.  Everything was cut in white and then colored by brushing on inks.

Speaking of backsides, about two weeks ago we gave Sophie a bath prior to her spay surgery.  Her backside was so fluffy afterward I had to take a picture of it.

Her frontside wasn't as fluffy, but it was extra adorable as always.  She was a very good girl during her bath.  Love.

Because Easter is very much a spring occasion and my bunnies are being used for the first time, I'll send my card over to the following challenges:

Four Seasons - Spring 
NBUS Challenge #60

 

I'm glad you could stop by today.  I'll see you again soon!

Split Front Card with Birds

Hi there!  Before I get too far ahead of myself I'd like to share the second split front card I made.  This time I reached far back into the paper cabinet and pulled out an oldie with a vintage vibe.  It's 7 Gypsies Conservatory and surprisingly thin paper for being double sided.  However, it works out nicely for layering.

I sponged Cocoa ink on the edges of the panels to enhance the vintage look.  The birds were cut from one of the 6x6 sheets.  Before I cut them I glued the sheet to cardstock to give it more substance.  After cutting I heat embossed the birds with clear powder.  It's a simple thing that makes them a little more special.

Inside is another bird and a bit of snipped off branch.

I'm experiencing renewed interest in actually using my designer papers.  Is it possible I could reduce the vastness of The Hoard?  Maybe just a little bit.

Have a beautiful day!

Paper:  7 Gypsies Conservatory designer paper, grocer's kraft, Neenah 110 lb white for die cut leaves  Ink:  SU Old Olive and Close to Cocoa, Versamark for birds  Other:  Poppystamps Freida Leaf, Creative Expressions Stacked Just Because, clear embossing powder for birds, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Double D: First Signs of Spring

It's Double D challenge time again!  Thoughts are turning to spring, even if it has not yet arrived in many parts of the northern hemisphere.  We can dream.  I love the pretty pictures Diane has provided on the inspiration board.  Those little chicks are so sweet!  Here's the board and a prize for a random winner:

 

The Double D challenge team also votes on four creative winners.  

Since the theme of the challenge is "First Signs of Spring" my thoughts went immediately to an older Penny Black stamp that depicts the earliest rays of hope that winter will end and spring begin.  The sentiment is Hero Arts, and I added some sprinkles courtesy a Stampin' Up Itty Bitty Backgrounds stamp -- all oldies.

Coloring is with Tombow markers, part watercolor and part blender.  I finished with a simple fluted edge and the panel popped up.

Do visit our Double D challenge for more details and check out some fabulous team samples while you're there.  Take care and have a wonderful day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Pretty Perch, Hero Arts Spring (sentiment), Stampin' Up Itty Bitty Backgrounds (tiny blue sprinkles)  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, green card base  Ink:  Ranger Archival Shadow Grey, SU Old Olive and Bashful Blue  Coloring:  Tombow markers with blender and water  Other:  Spellbinders Fluted Classic Rectangles, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Spring Emerges ... on Paper

Hello friends!  It's good to have you stop by on a chilly winter day.  It's Sunday afternoon as I write this and we've had thunder and lightning and hail these last two days.  Barely a break in the weather.  It's a good time to play in my room and keep Sophie quiet after her spay surgery.  As if.  Try to stop a 7 month old Golden Retriever in the midst of a sudden burst of parkour zoomies.  I do my best, sigh.

I felt like coloring something springy, so I pulled out a not-yet-used Penny Black stamp from last spring.  I know!  How could I let this pretty thing sit?  My NBUS baskets are full of dreams and aspirations.  Well, here at last Spring Emerges... on paper if not outside my window.

I could probably make a lot more cards if I invested less time in the design.  This was so easy -- just color an image and plunk it on a card.  Maybe it's not quite that simple, but almost, and I love the look of it.  I stamped on Fabriano Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor paper and colored with Tombow markers and minimal use of my homemade blender -- found recipe online, mixed it up and filled a blank Copic.  After coloring I put the image panel back into the die and sponged the corners.  Just keeping it very clean and simple.  There is more info in the recipe at the end.

I'm going to link up to four challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge -- Spring Emerges and Happy Builder (sentiment) are both PB stamps
Four Seasons Spring -- See their beautiful mood board below.  I love it all, but that little cup of daffodils is so cute!
NBUS Challenge #60 -- New Penny Black stamps
Triple B (Birds, blooms, or butterflies) -- I have blooms today.

   

That's a lot challenges for me, but I like to play and support them when I have a chance.  Thanks everyone!  Have a beautiful day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Spring Emerges and Happy Builder  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, SU Whisper White for sentiment strip, other textured white cardstock for card base  Ink:  Ranger Archival Shadow Grey, SU Crumbcake and Taken With Teal  Coloring:  Tombow markers and homemade blender  Other:  Iridescent sequins, Spellbinders Scored and Pierced Rectangles, other rectangle die for sentiment, Scotch brand foam mounting tape