Celebrate

Hello, and welcome to a new week.

On an inspired whim I dropped everything and made today's card.  You see, one of my favorite challenges is Can You Handle the Pressure, which is all about embossing folders.   Their optional twist this time is "use a sentiment", and it was Diane's sample card that inspired me to flip to the back of my collection and pull out one of my oldest folders -- Cuttlebug Happy Birthday.

It's a crisp white backdrop for the pops of color in the fun presents and paper flowers.  If you squint real hard you might see Wink of Stella on the ribbons, and Stardust Stickles on the flower centers.  I added confetti with a Copic marker and then went over the dots with Spica clear glitter pen.  When turned in the light you can almost make out the shimmer, but the color mostly disappears.  You know how it goes -- much more sparkle and shimmer in real life.

The dies were all cut in white and colored with Stampin' Up inks and blending brushes.

Two challenges:

Can You Handle the Pressure -- I've got the embossing folder and the "use a sentiment" covered.
Seize the Birthday #292 -- Celebrate is the optional topping.

  

Well, this was fun.  Now I need to run off and do a few things that didn't get done while I was playing in my room.  Happy crafting!

Stamps:  None  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb for embossed panel, 110 lb for die cuts, aqua textured cardstock  Ink:  Various Stampin' Up inks, Copic for confetti dots  Dies:  Tutti Designs Celebrate Word Set, Memory Box Pretty Presents, Heartfelt Creations Delicate Asters  Other:  Cuttlebug Happy Birthday embossing folder, Wink of Stella, Stickles Stardust glitter glue, Copic Atyou Spica clear glitter pen, 1/4" circle punch

Sunflowers and Pumpkins

Hello, friends, and welcome!  Turning to those first few days of fall when the sunflowers are still blooming and the leaves are not quite turned... there may even be a ripe pumpkin or two in the sunniest patch.  No matter the season, they can all come together on our cards.  That's something to celebrate.

The up front star of the show is a new-to-me Cottage Cutz die called Fall Centerpiece.  Maybe it's from last year, but it came to me during their Labor Day sale.  The little "hello" is from a different Cottage Cutz set.  All the CC dies were cut in Neenah 110 lb white and colored with inks and brushes.

The card base is cut from shimmery white, including the Tutti Designs Maple Vine Frame which I glued to the base and brushed over with inks.  The background colors are not true in the picture I'm viewing on my laptop.  It's actually a soft pale-orange (SU Apricot Appeal) blended into a darker warm-orange (SU Really Rust).  Both colors retired in 2010.

The arch is also shimmery white, cut with the new-to-me Spellbinders Essential Arches which I decided were essential indeed.  Not fancy, just functional.  I was on a shopping hiatus for a while, but... sales happened, sigh.

• I was going to leave off the sentiment but when I saw The Sisterhood of Crafters "Hello" theme I added it to my card and it looks just right.
• Of course, I have to send my card over to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #66 with my never-been-used Fall Centerpiece and Essential Arches.
• Additionally, I'm sharing in Vicki's A Cut Above September Challenge which closes on the 28th.  It's all about die cuts as a focal point.  The optional theme is "monochromatic", which I had in mind when I made the card base, but then it looked like such a nice background for the Fall Centerpiece.

 

That's it for today!  I've got some things on my table that I hope to finish soon, fingers crossed.  I'm off to run errands today.  Happy fall!

Stamps:  None  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 110 lb for main image dies, shimmery white for base and arch  Ink:  Various Stampin' Up  Coloring:  Blending brushes  Dies:  Cottage Cutz Fall Harvest, CC Telephone for sentiment, Spellbinders Essential Arches, Tutti Designs Maple Vine Frame  Other:  Dimensional tape for one sunflower

Paper Flowers and Challenges

Hello friends!  Remnants of summer today, playing with paper and die cuts.  There's a method to my madness in that I was trying to use the last scraps of a 6x6 paper pad, and with these cards the mission was accomplished.  For a designer paper hoarder like me that's a big deal!

I've used Memory Box Clara Blooms on the first card with some older dies, plus a Sue Wilson Stacked Thinking of You sentiment fresh from the NBUS basket.

Homemade resin dots float across each card.  All the colored cardstock is from my years old collection of CTMH.  I like the way it can be distressed by sanding to show the white core.  Pretty colors, too.  I haven't bought colored cardstock in years, but my collection from many sources is as vast as my designer paper hoard.

Same colors and papers in the next card, but different dies and design -- all from my old-timey stash, except the new-to-me Sue Wilson Happy Everything sentiment.

 

There are two rather new challenges I've been looking forward to playing in, and today is the day, though I'm bringing up the rear.  Only a few days left for each:

Love Those Pretty Papers --It's anything goes with the focus on designer papers.  The optional September theme is "Fall".  
A Cut Above -- The September challenge has an optional theme of "Monochromatic", but as you can see I didn't use it this time.
I'm also glad to be linking up to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #66 with my never-been-used Sue Wilson sentiment dies.

  

Thank you for visiting.  Take care!

Meander in Yellow

Hello and happy day to you!  Moving right along with some flowers... this Penny Black Meander stamp has only been waiting since spring for me to put it to paper.  Sometimes I forget how much I love to just sit and quietly color.

Stamped on hot press watercolor paper with Ranger Archival Watering Can, the coloring is with Tombow brush markers and the occasional use of homemade blender solution in a blank Copic marker.  It's my go-to coloring method these days.  I can't say it's easier or more difficult than other methods, but I enjoy it.

I also enjoy playing with designer paper and I've got way too much of it, so I'll take any opportunity to put it to work.  Here are some oldies that are unobtrusive enough to play backup for the flower image.

The sentiment is a composite from the Penny Black Note Builder set.  Have I mentioned how much I adore my Penny Black stamps?  If I could only have one bucket of stamps... well, thank goodness I don't have to choose.

I made today's card with specific challenges in mind:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge  -- It's anything goes with the optional "anything but square".

Triple B Challenge -- Birds, blooms, or butterflies.  See their gorgeous yellow inspiration board!
The Flower Challenge #95 -- Include a stamped flower.  Stamps are my first love in this craft.
NBUS Challenge #66 -- Never before used schtuff.  The Penny Black Meander flower wreath is a first time use.

  

  

I rarely do that many challenges for one card, but they were all so inspiring and it was easy to fit them in.  Sending thanks to all the folks who work to keep them going.

And thank YOU for kindly dropping in.  Let's do this again soon.  Take care!

Stamps:  Penny Black Meander and Note Builder Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Neenah white for card base, old retired My Mind's Eye designer paper  Ink:  Ranger Archival Watering Can and Jet Black  Coloring:  Tombow markers and homemade blender  Other:  Sequins, Spellbinders Scored and Pierced Rectangles

Double D Challenge: Fall Leaves

 

It's that time of year, friends -- cooler temperatures, shorter days... and a Double D challenge in which Darlene is asking to see our fall leaves.  Have a look at her inspiration board full of rich color:

In addition to creative winners the Double D's have a prize for a random winner:

I dearly wanted to color my Inky Antics Autumn Dogs this fall, and the DD challenge gave me the perfect opportunity.

I colored with Tombow markers on hot pressed watercolor paper.  The embossed card base was brushed with SU's Apricot Appeal ink, keeping it bright, but with just a bit more definition in the texture.  The patterned papers are some I've had for years and will probably still have for years to come.  I love my patterned papers, but I also like a fair amount of white space.  Usually.  Sometimes.  It depends on my crafty frame of mind.

The zig zag stitch is an old Hero Arts stamp.  The die cut leaves are sponged with ink on the edges.  It was a fun card to make!

I know you'll enjoy the team samples at Double D.  I hope to see you in the gallery.  Have a beautiful day!

Stamps:  Inky Antics Autumn Dogs, Hero Arts Stitched Ribbon (zig zag)  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot pressed watercolor, Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, scraps designer paper  Ink:  Palette Noir, SU Apricot Appeal (card base), Brocade Blue (sky), Crumb Cake (zig zag)  Coloring:  Tombow markers and homemade blender  Other:  Darice Fall Leaves Swirl embossing folder, Memory Box Stitched Circle Layers, Impression Obsession Small Leaf Set

Warmest Christmas Wishes

Hello!  Christmas is coming and I feel like I lost a month in my card making so I need to play catch up.  No complaints here as it's too fun to be a chore.  I've got a lot of new or not-yet-used crafty toys, and the current Christmas Kickstart challenge has inspired me to put the newest of them to work.  The theme is Embossing Folder Fun.

My card started with the new Memory Box Pinecone and Berries 3D embossing folder.  I embossed a panel of SU Always Artichoke cardstock and then, using a blending brush, rubbed it thoroughly with Always Artichoke ink.  It darkened the cardstock and brought out the embossed pattern.  I splattered with white acrylic paint and the rest fell in place after that.  I'll list everything in the recipe.

The bird, birdhouse, and sentiment are all Memory Box.  The branch in the foreground is Tim Holtz.  The post for the birdhouse comes from a Penny Black Wood Floors die.

The snow on the birdhouse and branch is part white acrylic paint, part Art Anthology Blizzard dimensional crystal with microfine glitter sprinkled over.  I did not do a good job of capturing the sparkle in the photo.  It looked good through the camera lens, sheesh.  Just imagine it a thousand times more sparkly than what you see here.

Today's challenges:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #90 -- Embossing Folder Fun
NBUS Challenge #66 -- My never before use schtuffs are the Memory Box embossing folder, birdhouse, and sentiment set.

 

Thank you for taking the time to stop by.  Have a beautiful day!

Stamps:  Memory Box Holiday Wishes  Paper:  SU Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 110 lb for die cuts  Ink:  SU Always Artichoke, Real Red, Close to Cocoa, black and gray Copics  Dies:  Memory Box Woodgrain Birdhouse and Nestled Chickadee Duo, Tim Holtz Holiday Greens Mini, Penny Black Wood Floors (for birdhouse post)  Other:  Memory Box Pinecone and Berries 3D embossing folder, white acrylic paint, Art Anthology Blizzard dimensional crystal, Elizabeth Craft Warm Diamond microfine glitter, Scotch brand foam mounting tape under sentiment

Leafy Flourish

Hello and welcome, friends!

The Can You Handle the Pressure challenge is always anything goes using an embossing folder, but there's an optional twist if you so desire.  This time the twist is leaves, and it inspired me to stop dancing around this gorgeous Lisa Horton Leafy Flourish 3D embossing folder and actually use it on a card.

Leafy Flourish is a 6" folder, but I applied it to an A2 card and simply let it overlap to the back.  It comes with a matching die which I'll save for later.  I used sponge tipped applicators, similar to eye shadow brushes, to apply Stampin' Up inks -- River Rock, True Thyme, Really Rust, Bordering Blue.  The Impression Obsession For You sentiment is a double layer of SU's Bordering Blue cardstock.

I'm hurrying and scurrying to finish up tonight.  It's been a busy day, including a long walk with Sophie.  In the afternoon we met up with a friend and walked in a favorite city park, but first Sophie and I went into our woods.  The bees have abandoned their nest and I haven't seen the cougar in a while.  We explored for a bit and had just crested a little rise when I asked Sophie to look at me so I could snap a picture.  She seemed reluctant and distracted.  Well, I'm sorry to say it turns out she was bothered by the carcass of a very small fawn.  It had been there long enough for the forest critters to take care of it.  I can only guess what happened, but it's getting a little nerve wracking back there.  You know when you have the feeling that someone's watching you... well, that.

Back to the craft room...  Here are the two challenges I'm sending my leafy card to:

Can You Handle the Pressure -- Anything goes embossing with optional twist of leaves.
NBUS Challenge #66 -- Never before used schtuff.  First time use of the Leafy Flourish embossing folder.

 

 

Thank you for dropping in to share a day in the life of Sophie and me.  There's always something going on outside my stamp room window, and hopefully there will be a lot more going on inside my room, as well.  Hugs all around!

Double D Challenge: Sunflowers

Hello, friends!  I'm back to my Double D Challenge duties today.  The DDs and team were very patient with me while I dealt with life stuff and I appreciate them so much.

Diane has given us a cheerful challenge today -- sunflowers.  You just have to feel good looking at those bright yellow blooms.  Here's our inspiration board:

The team votes for creative winners, and a random winner will receive the prize pictured below.  Please see the Double D rules for more specific information.

Yellow sunflowers and blue butterflies... I think you can see which corner of the board inspired me.  I've crafted a simple design with crisp white layering on an embossed card base trimmed with a strip of polka dots.

I colored with Copics on Neenah white, added black pearls to the butterfly bodies.  All supplies are well loved and oft used.

Come join us at Double D with your sunflower creations.  We'd love to see them and we hope you'll be inspired by the team samples.  Great stuff over there!

Thank you so much for dropping in today.  Happy crafting!

Stamps:  Stampendous Pop Sunflower  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80# & 110#, scrap SU Old Olive, scrap designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Black pearls, Tim Holtz Lumber 3D embossing folder, Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets