Double D Challenge -- Springtime Flowers

 

Hello!  We continue to move onward into spring and I sincerely hope you're seeing sunshine and flowers where you are.  I'd like to see more of it, but I know it's coming.  Double D Darlene is encouraging us to put those spring flowers on a card for the newest Double D Challenge.  How about this pretty inspiration board?

This sweet stencil goes to a random winner, and the team votes on creative favorites.

I colored Penny Black's Scent of Spring tulips from last year's collection -- stamped in Memento London Fog on a circle scrap, colored with Copics, and framed with a die cut ring from my spare parts.  The designer paper gives a corner of color, but mostly plain otherwise.

The sentiment is from PB's 2015 Sprinkles and Smiles set.  How could this fun sentiment set have slipped by me all these years?  A friend recently gifted it to me and I love everything about it.  I hand cut the sentiment, then smooshed with Versamark ink and embossed with clear powder.

The Rhubarb Crumble Nuvo drops were a good match, and how fun it is to dot them here and there as big or as tiny as desired.  They make the prettiest pearls, but in this case I thwacked the back of the card to flatten them somewhat like enamel dots.

I hope you'll visit the team at Double D to see their springy flower-filled cards, and then play along with yours.  I think it will be a pretty gallery!

That's all for now!  It's been a busy month, both in and out of my craft room, but nothing to complain about.  Thank you for visiting!

Stamps:  Penny Black Scent of Spring and Sprinkles and Smiles  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, color cardstock for base and layer, Whimsy Stamps Floral Explosion designer paper (older)  Ink:  Memento London Fog, SU Going Gray for sentiment, Versamark  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Nuvo Rhubarb Crumble Crystal Drops, clear embossing powder, Spellbinders circle die, Memory Box Stitched Circle Layers

Seize the Birthday -- Layer It

Hello again!  I'm happy to be back today with my third post as Special Party Guest at Seize the Birthday.  Today's challenge topping is "Layer It":

If you're not into layering, then you're welcome to make any kind of birthday card.  We'd just love to have you play along.

It's rare that I make a card without layering, but I do generally try to keep the weight under an ounce for mailing.  This one worked out just fine.

I've made the decision to play with all my not-yet-used Penny Black spring flowers from last year before I buy any more from this year's collection.  I'm pretty close... having fun with my Penny Black self-challenge along with my bunny focus.  For this bouquet I stamped in Memento London Fog and colored with Copics, then hand cut.  I tied it up with one of the SSS Pretty Bows, layered it onto an Impression Obsession Wooden Disk, and added a cute birthday sentiment from another PB set.

How about that gorgeous designer paper?  It's Brutus Monroe Rustic Florals that's been sitting unused in The Vast Hoard far too long.  I colored to match and backed it up with the rich red card base.  I brought out some copper nail heads I've had for years, too, thinking they played well with the woodgrain paper.

Well, that's enough from me.  Now it's your turn.  I know you've got some great ideas for layered birthday cards.  Have a look at the Seize the Birthday team's cards.  They always deliver fabulous inspiration.

Take care and have a happy day! 

Stamps:  Penny Black Scent of Spring and sentiment from A Little Bird  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb for coloring, 110 lb for die cuts, PTI Pure Poppy, Brutus Monroe Rustic Florals designer paper  Ink:  Memento London Fog and Rich Cocoa, Ranger Distress Tea Dye and Walnut stain for wood slice  Coloring:  Copics for flowers, sponged ink for wood slice  Other:  Impression Obsession Wooden Disk, Simon Says Stamp Pretty Bows, Spellbinders Label die (old), Nail heads metal stickers (old), Scotch brand foam mounting tape to pop up flower heads

Bunny on a 'Shroom

Hi there!  I have another bunny today.  Not for Easter, just for the love of bunnies.  I pulled out all my not-yet-used bunny stamps and dies with the notion of putting each of them to paper.  Then I pulled out a few from my stash, and a few more... I didn't realize I had so many bunnies.  Not sure I'll get to all of them, but this is one I've been eager to color since the day it landed in my mailbox.

Creative Expressions Designer Boutique Daydream Bunny:

It's sometimes hard to tell by looking at the stamp package, but I suspected it would color up cute, and it certainly did turn out adorable.  I stamped in Memento Toffee Crunch and colored with Copic markers.  Very rewarding.  I left the background white because I like the clean look of it.  It's a simple note card with no sentiment.

Since Daydream Bunny is one of my not-yet-used stamps I'll share in Darnell's NBUS Challenge #73 -- Never before used schtuff.  Thank you, Darnell!

Wishing you all a beautiful day!

Double D Challenge -- Easter

 

Hi there!  Double D Diane has a cute inspiration board for our next Double D Challenge beginning today.  The theme is Easter, and just look how adorable:

I'm in love with every corner of the board and if I could make a card exactly like any bit of it I would be so happy.  However, I do have a bunny, chicks, and Easter eggs and they're pretty cute, too.

I've used another bunny from the same Inky Antics set as my previous card.  The eggs are a separate stamp in the same set -- stamped, masked, and then the bunny stamped behind them.  I drew in the grass line, colored with Copics, brushed blue ink for the sky.

The big daisy is the last and largest from a years old pack of daisies.  I added blue color for shading, then dimensional glaze to the center.  Dimensional glaze on the little hearts, too.  The sentiment was patched together from different sets.  Mintay designer paper covers the card -- it's one of my goals this year (yes, I made a list) to dip into The Vast Hoard of DP more often.  

Check out the inspiring team samples, and then we'd love to have you play along in our Double D Easter challenge.  You may end up a creative favorite, or perhaps the random winner of this adorable prize:

Have a happy spring day!

Stamps:  Inky Antics Bunny #1, Hero Arts Easter Greetings sentiment (partial), Simon Says Stamp Tweet Friend hugs sentiment w/die  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, SU Pink Pirouette, Mintay Springtime designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Memory Box Stitched Circle Layers and Stitched Scalloped Circles, Sue Wilson Pierced Flags, JudiKins Diamond Glaze, hearts die cuts from trinket jar, years old purchased daisy flower

Bunny on a Swing

Hello there!  I've got bunnies on my mind with the arrival of spring, and Easter not too far off.  I stamped a few that I haven't used yet, just coloring and making cards for the fun of it.  It won't be a bunny a day, but they'll make an appearance here and there.  I also stamped a whole set of Penny Black flowers from last spring.  I'm staying focused...

First, an Inky Antics bunny that's been waiting since last spring.

Doesn't he look happy?  Stamped on Neenah and colored with Copics.  The card base is covered with an embossed panel smooshed with white ink, and a bit of some BasicGrey designer paper scraps I'm trying to finish off.  I'm so close, just a few small scraps left.  Rather than die cut the bunny panel I rounded the corners with punches -- regular rounded on the top, decorative on the bottom.  I like how that worked out!

Playing along here:

Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #489 -- Any occasion.  I'm definitely addicted to stamps and more, and happy to be playing along in this challenge for the first time.
The Sisterhood of Crafters -- Shades of Green.  I made sure to use plenty of green because bunnies love green (don't they?)
NBUS Challenge #72 -- Never before used schtuff.  That's my bunny!

  

This was fun!  Thanks for indulging me.  Have a happy spring day!

Stamps:  Inky Antics Bunny #1  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, SU green (maybe Pear Pizazz?), SU Barely Banana, scraps BasicGrey Origins designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, white pigment ink, SU Summer Sun to sponge yellow edges, SU Bashful Blue for sky  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Elizabeth Craft Bunch of Flowers 4, 1/4" circle punch, standard corner rounder punch, decorative corner punch, Sizzix Branches w/Leaves embossing folder, SU Subtle embossing folder, Diamond Stickles on flower centers, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Seize the Birthday -- Milestone

Hello!  I'm back again for Seize the Birthday.  This time we're creating milestone cards.

A milestone can be a lot of different things, but remember we're thinking "birthday" here.  If you're not a toppings kind of crafter, then just do a regular birthday card.  We'd love to see it!

The milestone topping stumped me at first.  I knew I wanted to do a sweet sixteen card for a friend's granddaughter, but I don't have number dies or stamps.  Then I remembered my Memory Box Wooden Alpha letters and figured I could just spell it out.  So here you go:

Keeping it very sweet and feminine, a lot went into this card, playing across it's 6 3/4" length.  The letters were cut from a very bright pink cardstock.  Too bright, in fact, so I smooshed over them with my white pigment ink.  Now they're softened with a whitewashed appearance.  Lots of pretty die cuts and papers, too much to mention here so I put it all in the recipe below.    I think you can see the Stickles glitter here and there. The one stamped element is the little violets cupcake.  Did you notice it?  It's a diminutive and pretty Lockhart stamp from many years ago.

Don't forget to say "hi" to the talented team at Seize the Birthday, and then share your own card in the link up.  It's going to be another fabulous players' gallery, I'm sure.  Take care and I'll see you again real soon!

Stamps:  Lockhart Violets cupcake  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, Stampin' Up Pixie Pink, Mintay Lovely Day designer paper  Ink:  SU Pixie Pink, Barely Banana, white pigment ink  Coloring:  Copics for cupcake, brushed ink for other  Dies:  Memory Box Wooden Alpha, Cottage Cutz Sweet w/Shadow (did not use shadow), Elizabeth Craft Bunch of Flowers 4, Impression Obsession Balloons, Memory Box Precious Hearts (for balloon strings & bows)  Other:  Stickles Diamond glitter, 1/4" circle punch, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Flowers for a Friend

Hello everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card I made for my friend's birthday.  It's a 5x7 card based on the fabulous creation I came across here.  The crafter, Sam Calcott, shares a video for an easy pop up vase card.  Her instructions are easy to follow and the design, which I believe she learned from another crafter, is clever.  After going back and forth from computer screen to craft table I decided not to do the pop up, but the card is still quite special.

I've used Penny Black flowers, Memory Box butterflies, a Spellbinders embossing folder, Poppystamps bow, Impression Obsession sentiment... the usual kind of potpourri that goes into a card.  It takes a village.

 

I stamped in Memento London Fog and colored with Copic markers.  I made a little arrangement for the front, and the circle aperture gives a sizeable peek at what's growing inside the card.

Open and see the planter box and sentiment with more of those lovely Canyon Butterflies.  I used a circle die to cut a dip in the planter box so it wouldn't be visible through the front window.

I was planning to link up to The Flower Challenge for their 100th post celebration, but been so busy and coming up late.  However, after encouragement from some teamie friends I'll do that now.  They're asking for circles and I do have a circle window on the front of my card.  Thanks, friends!

The Flower Challenge - Add circles

I'll sum up the ingredients below my signature.

Thank you all for taking the time to visit.  I hope we can meet here again soon!

Stamps:  Penny Black Love Blooms (flowers) and Super Day (inside sentiment)  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, scrap woodgrain designer paper  Ink:  Memento London Fog and Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Dies:  Penny Black Love Blooms Cut Outs, Impression Obsession For You, Memory Box Canyon Butterflies and Stitched Circle Layers Poppystamps Lovely Gift Bow, Spellbinders Labels Twenty-Eight  Other:  Spellbinders Branching Out 2D embossing folder, Diamond Stickles, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Sing! It's Spring!

Hello friends!  Does it look like spring where you are?  There are daffodils blooming along our street, but at my house there's nothing but a sand pit in the front yard, currently full of rain puddles.  We had some work done on our sewer line -- not at all a pretty picture, but we're happy it's done.  Now waiting for the landscaper to make some time for us.  Everything will work out.

For the time being, I can have blue skies, blooming trees, and new life on my cards.  Simon Says Stamp drew me in with all the cute stuff in their March kit and, yes, I signed up.  I figured it's not the same as shopping if it comes as a monthly subscription, right?  I know, I know!  Fooling myself.  I've been on a shopping hiatus for months, but now I have this plus some gifts from a friend, and the next SSS kit will be coming soon... you know how it is.  I'll do my best to get to all of it and have plenty of fun in the process.

The stamp set here is Tweet Friend.  I purchased the matching dies separately.  I think you can see which of the stamps were die cut.  The mailbox stamp has a little flag with heart, but I masked it off with tape before inking, then removed the tape before stamping so I could stamp the mamma bird in its place.  I colored with Copics and brushed inks on the background.  A narrow edge of pink and some wood grain-embossed white space finish the front.

I didn't exactly match the mood board, but I don't think they'll mind:

Four Seasons Challenge -- Spring

Thank you for visiting!  Happy spring!

Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Tweet Friend with coordinating dies  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, SU Pink Pirouette  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Bashful Blue and Mellow Moss  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Tim Holtz Sizzix Lumber 3D embossing folder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Double D Challenge -- Birds

Hi friends!  Double D Challenge time is here again, and Double D Darlene is asking for birds.  Well, I think I have a bird or two in my toy box.  Have a look at all the color in the inspiration board:

And a prize for a random winner.  Creative favorites, as always, are voted on by the team.

One of my favorite things about challenges is that they oftentimes remind me of something fabulous I have in my stash.  Today it's the Marianne Collectables Toucan.  He's a fun guy that I've only used once and I was pretty happy for the nudge to bring him out to play again.  There's just something about him...

I cut all his parts from colored cardstock and did a little sponging around the edges of each piece, except I didn't sponge the feet and you can see the difference.  Next time I'll remember to sponge.

His tropical habitat is made up of non-tropical dies on a background of designer paper.  I added the sun circle to highlight him.  Or maybe it's a moon?  A make-believe world can be anything you imagine.

Try as I might, I couldn't get happy with any kind of sentiment placement on the front, but inside it says "Just another day in Paradise".

Hop over to the Double D blog and see some beautiful bird cards, then show us yours.  I hope you enjoy our challenge.  Have a happy day!

Dies:  Marianne Collectables Toucan, Poppystamps Sylvan Frame and Sylvan Sprig, Spellbinders Standard Circles Large

Happy St. Patrick's Day... with a Christmas Card

I know... I'm pretty far off the mark posting a Christmas card on St. Patrick's Day.  I've been a little busy, but I was determined to play in Jo's Christmas Kickstart Challenge where she's asking for colors that are "Not the Norm".

Wanting to use up some older designer paper, I pulled out the least "normal" pack I have.  It's full of non-traditional colors in fun prints, and this particular piece in yellow is top of the non-traditional charts.  Keeping with the theme, I cut the die in pink and embellished with multi-colored snowflakes.

There's Diamond Stickles glitter on the snowflakes and Wink of Stella shimmer on the snowy cut out areas of the sledding kids.  I wasn't sure I liked it at first, but it's grown on me and, as always, it's much prettier in person when you can get the full effect of the sparkle and texture.

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #96 -- Not the Norm.  Use non-traditional colors.
NBUS Challenge #72 -- My "never before used schtuff" is the Cottage Cutz Alpine Sledding die

 

I'm glad you could stop by today.  Take care till next time!

Stamps:  Lawn Fawn Winter Wavy Sayings  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, Stampin' Up Melon Mambo, Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly designer paper  Ink:  Melon Mambo for sentiment, Copics to color snowflakes  Dies:  Cottage Cutz Alpine Sledding, Spellbinders Essential Arches, Lawn Fawn Fancy Wavy Banners, Impression Obsession Snowflakes, tiny snowflakes from another Cottage Cutz set  Other:  Diamond Stickles, Wink of Stella, Scotch brand foam mounting tape