Sew Much Fun!

Hello again!  I hope you all are ready for a new week and whatever it may bring.  Who knows what's around the corner, but I'm in my happy place and there's nothing but good cheer up in here.

Today's card, for instance... I can't help but smile!  These industrious little Penny Black meeces hopped into my cart earlier this year and they've been awaiting their turn ever since.  Then along came the Penny Black Saturday Challenge where the optional theme is "stitching".  Just the nudge I needed!

My stitching is all faux, but there's a whole lot of it going on here -- cross stitch, straight stitch, mouse stitch... even the designer paper in the background is stitched up patchwork.  I colored with Copics, and if you look closely you can see the pattern in the fabric the mice are working on.  That was stamped with an old Stampin' Up Background Basics set.

Not that I'm old or anything (ahem), but infinite years ago I had a sewing machine like this.  It was built into a cabinet and it raised up when you opened the lid.  You know the type.  I gave it to my sister-in-law when I "upgraded" to a new fangled machine which was not nearly as beautiful.  The machine I learned to sew on in high school looked like this, also in a cabinet, but operated by pressing your knee against a lever.  Vintage memories, sheesh!

Three challenges today:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge -- Anything goes, optional "stitching"
Love those Pretty Papers -- Anything goes, optional "wedding".
NBUS Challenge #75 -- Never before used schtuff.  Penny Black Sew Much Fun stamp is newish to me and used for the first time today.

  

Thanks for visiting today and I'll see you again soon!

Stamps:  Penny Black Sew Much Fun, Stampin' Up Background Basics  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, SU Blue Bayou, Forever Friends Kraft Notes designer paper (years old)  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Sequins, twine, Penny Back Background Basics stencil, Memory Box Cross Stitched Frame Borders, Poppystamps Stitched Main Street Tags, Taylored Expressions Ric Rac Borders

Butterflies -- Two Cards, Three Challenges

Hi, friends!  I'm happy to be back near the end of a busy week which didn't allow much time in my craft room.  I feel much better having finished these two clean and simple cards.

When I saw the Can You Handle the Pressure Challenge with the optional twist of butterflies I immediately pulled out one of my oldest embossing folders.  It's still such a pretty thing!

Firstly, I embossed, then watercolored with Stampin' Up Cameo Coral ink on hot press watercolor paper.  The fine lines and dots were colored with a Copic marker.  Also, the insides of the butterflies' wings were done with gray Copics which gives them that soft, almost vellum-like appearance.  All the dots were sparkled with Stickles Diamond glitter glue.

I somehow managed to smudge the sentiment with my fingers and then transferred more smudges here and there on the card front.  Hence, four extra dots were punched and added.  Can you spot them?

Darice Butterflies in Corner embossing folder
Altenew Wishing You sentiment

I'll be sending the first card to the following challenges:

Can You Handle the Pressure? -- Anything goes with an embossing folder, or optional twist of butterflies.
Neglected Stuff -- It's been years since I used this Butterflies in Corner embossing folder.

 

Card #2 was not destined to happen until I saw Michele's sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  I always love their sketches, but a one week challenge is difficult for me to manage unless all the stars line up just right.  In this case I had an extra embossed panel of Cameo Coral which I'd cut down for the spare parts drawer.

Memory Box Wooden Alpha
Tim Holtz Sizzix Snowfall embossing folder

I flipped the sketch to the opposite side, and my butterfly curve is a border rather than a free-standing element, but I hope it's still okay.  I brought the Snowfall embossing in from the side which looks very cool in real, but sorry it doesn't show up more in the picture.

Here's the challenge link and the sketch:

Freshly Made Sketches #691

Well, this was fun!  I appreciate how challenges bring out the old familiars from my toybox.  Thanks, everyone!  Have a great weekend!

Double D Challenge: Let's Go to the Beach!

Hi!  How about a trip to the beach?  Darlene is inviting us to share our beach-themed cards or projects for the Double D Challenge that kicks off today.  She's provided a lot of inspiration to get us started:

There's a prize for a random winner.  Creative winners are voted on by the team.

I've made two cards.  The first brings to mind the cooler temperatures of our Pacific Northwest beaches.  I embossed and sanded a blue panel, then added a few bits and pieces from my die collection, all older, some probably retired.  They're listed further down.  I'm especially fond of the fishing net which doesn't get many opportunities to play.  The patterned frame was in my spare parts drawer.  The sandy beach is torn paper.

Next is a tropical beach.  The beautiful Mintay paper was not to be resisted, though I've had it for quite a while and barely used it.  When I pulled out the pad I found the shell pattern with a circle already cut on the edge, so I used it to frame another piece, then added a woodgrain border.  I brushed the tropical fronds with Stampin' Up inks Barely Banana and Sage Shadow.

I'm serious about using my designer paper more often.  It can feel like cheating, but I put a lot of thought into this design and thoroughly enjoyed the process.

10 die sets -- Spellbinders Standard Circles Large & Small, Amy Design Fishing Net, MFT Die-namics Wild Greenery, Impression Obsession Grass Border, Grass, and Mini-Shell Set, Memory Box Wrapped Stitched Frames, Cottage Cutz Seagulls in Flight, Sue Wilson (Creative Expressions) Life's a Beach
1 embossing folder -- Tim Holtz Sizzix Lumber 3D
1 paper pad -- Mintay Paradise
2 stamp sets (for inside sentiments, not shown)

My teamies at Double D have shared all manner of beach cards for inspiration.  I hope you'll come along and have some beachy fun with us!

Enjoy your day!

Playing with Sweetly Scented

Hello friends!  It's been a busy couple of weeks here with a few routine appointments, some outings with friends, and several days of gardening.  The wind died down and the weather was incredible.  I'm working to restore the garden after too many negative factors made me almost give up.  Let's hope I'm not simply inviting the deer to a fresh smorgasbord.  Wish me luck!

Morning coffee time, however, is for playing in my room.  Today I'm sharing my first attempt with a brushstroke stamp.  Now I'm hooked, but I won't rush out and buy more just yet.  I've got a lot of catching up to do.

Penny Black's Sweetly Scented waited too long in the NBUS basket.  It's such a pretty thing and easy to work with, a good one for beginners.  The first card was done the usual way on watercolor paper with markers and spritzing lightly with water.  I worked with Tombows in smallish areas at a time.  I stamped a lower corner with PB's Nature's Paintbrushes (2015), then sponged the edges, added stamped sprinkles and a sentiment.  Finally, I dotted with Nuvo Crystal Drops.

The second card was an experiment which I would really like to play with a little more.  I used wedge-tipped sponge applicators to brush on Distress Oxide inks -- Milled Lavender and Seedless Preserves on the petals, Wild Honey for the flower centers, Shabby Shutters and Pine Needles on the leaves.  I used regular Neenah super smooth white cardstock and didn't spritz with water.  Its a different sort of look, not perfect, but it doesn't have to be.  I would also like to try it with spritzing.

Since my Sweetly Scented is out of the package for the first time I'll share here:

NBUS Challenge #75 -- Never before used schtuff.  Darnell is celebrating 75 months of the challenge.  Visit her and read all about it.  Thank you, Darnell!

The busy times continue with more of the same, and I hope that will include card crafting.  I'm glad we could visit today.  Take care!

Stamps:  Penny Black Sweetly Scented, Nature's Paintbrushes, Thinking of You, Stampin' Up Itty Bitty Backgrounds (sprinkles)  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot pressed watercolor (first card), Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb (second card)

Ink for first card:  Tombow markers, various possibly retired Stampin' Up for sponging and sprinkles, PTI Dark Chocolate for sentiment, DOX Antique Linen for Nature's Paintbrushes

Ink for second card:  Distress Oxide Milled Lavender, Seedless Preserves, Wild Honey, Shabby Shutters, Pine Needles, Stampin' Up for sentiment and sprinkles

Other:  Nuvo Sugared Almond Crystal drops on first card

Double D Challenge: Frames

Hello there!  It's Double D Challenge time again, and to kick off the month of June Diane is asking us to design with frames.

As always, there's a prize for a random winner, and creative favorites are voted on by the team.

The inspiration board is full of vintage loveliness, but I went a different direction with the Woodland Whimsy set (Simon Says Stamp) which was still on my table from another project.  This oldie set packs a lot of cuteness.  You know how I love critters!

My bear is resting happily on the edge of Impression Obsession's Birch Tree Rectangle frame.  Isn't he a handsome fella?  Maybe he's waiting for his Valentine to come along.  I brushed inks on the background and stamped some sprinkles.  Coloring is with Copic markers.  The plaid around the edges makes his home appear all the more cozy.

Check out the team's inspiring samples at Double D.  I hope you'll have time to play along!

Have a happy June day!

Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Woodland Whimsy, SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds  Paper:  Neenah 110 lb white for die cuts, 111 lb woodgrain white for card base , brown scrap for layering, Mintay Wilderness designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Bashful Blue, Old Olive and Close to Cocoa  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Impression Obsession Birch Tree Rectangle

Twirling Tulips Twice

Hello and welcome!  It was a beautiful holiday weekend which brought with it a change in the weather and I'm thinking it might stay with us for a while.  I've certainly been enjoying it, and so it stands to reason there's less time in my craft room.  However, it's just enough and I have supplies to last a lifetime.  I probably don't need to tell you how much of it has never yet been used.

When Spellbinders had their most recent Warehouse Sale I picked up a few things.  How could I not indulge in a 3D embossing folder or two for only $3 each?  But wait... the Twirling Tulips folder I used today was only $1 !!!  No matter that it was released a year ago, tulips are always beautiful.  Have a look:

There are no dies with this folder, but all the tulips I used on these two cards came from the folder.  I embossed a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" sheet of Neenah 110 lb white -- lightly misted on both sides first to avoid cracking -- then cut out all the viable tulips and leaves.  I arranged them on a sticky sheet and colored with Stampin' Up! inks and sponge tipped eye shadow brushes.  I've been using this same set of brushes for a long time.  Rinse, squeeze, and they're ready to go again.

The first card is 4 1/2" x 6".  I covered the card base with an embossed panel of PTI Berry Sorbet, brushed with white pigment ink to enhance the pattern.  The layered Essential Arches were placed low on the card front to allow more of the embossing to show.  Added gems and a sentiment from my stash popped up on an oval.

The second card was made with leftovers which were too pretty to toss:

The decorative oval is from Spellbinders Infinity Punch & Pierce Plate, resting on one of their Essential Stylish Ovals.  The beautiful neutral designer paper is new-to-me Stamperia Dewdrops.  I recently won a $5 GC to A Cherry on Top and figured it would be just the right amount to apply to a paper pad.  Well... I ended up with five paper pads, but I have to say it was some fun shopping and I made wise choices in that all the papers I chose are specifically for backgrounds.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Sharing here:

Can You Handle the Pressure? -- Must use an embossing folder.  Anything goes or optional zoo/jungle animals.  I hoped to do the optional twist, but it remains to be seen if I'll have time.

Lots of talk today, and now I must rush off.  Thank you for visiting; I know you're busy, too.  Have a beautiful day!

Farm Scene

Hello and happy Friday, friends!  Just a little something I colored for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge -- "On the Farm"  -- for March.  Wait, what?  That was two months ago.  At that time I pulled this stamp out thinking it was my one not-yet-used Penny Black stamp that looked somewhat farm-y, and then I don't know what happened, but I didn't get it done until now.  That's the way it goes in my stamp room -- I'm easily sidetracked.

I'm enjoying my playtime with last year's Penny Black stamps before I start on the new Penny Black.  This one is from the Scent of Spring set.  Looks like someone's been gathering eggs.  Stamped in Memento London Fog and colored with Copics.  A little gingham and wood grain helps with the countrified look.

Down home at the Miller residence Sophie is happy to be helping in the garden.  See her smile?  She's my sweetheart. 

Playing along here today:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge -- Monochrome or Anything Goes

Thank you for stopping by to say hello!  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Scent of Spring and Super Day  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, Mintay Farm Life designer paper  Ink:  Memento London Fog and Toffee Crunch, Stampin' Up Bashful Blue  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Lil' Inker Silly Stitched Die Set, Spellbinders A2 Bracket Borders One, linen thread

Double D Challenge: May's Birth Flower or Birthstone

Hello, friends!  The Double D challenge is full of choices today.  Be inspired by May's birth flowers: Lily of the Valley and Hawthorne (either), or birthstone:  emerald.  See our pretty board for this challenge:

And a prize for a random winner.  Creative winners are voted on by the team.

I think you can see I chose "emerald" for my inspiration.  I thought of emerald forest, emerald ocean, emerald pool... and eventually I came around to this never been used, recently gifted Penny Black Jump for Joy frog.  He makes me so happy!

I gave him a stenciled green background from my bag o' backgrounds, a few green foliage bits, and a fun sentiment.  The sentiment is a combination of two oldie unrelated stamps.  The second half is a St. Patrick's Day stamp.  The original says "It's St. Patrick's Day...".  I used markers to ink only the latter part of the St. Pat's sentiment and now it's perfect for a frog.  What fun!  I love this guy.  He's colored with Copics, hand cut and popped up.

Visit my teamies at Double D.  They've got some pretty cards over there!  We'd love to see yours, too.

My frog and I are also visiting the following challenges:

AAA Birthday #73 -- Anything goes birthday.  It's their 6th birthday party.  Happy birthday to them!
NBUS #74 -- Never before used schtuff (my PB frog stamp)
Penny Black Saturday Challenge -- Anything goes or optional monochrome.

  

Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Jump for Joy, two oldie unrelated sentiments  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb for most, 110 lb for frog and foliage  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, black & green Tombow markers for sentiment, Distress Oxide Lucky Clover & Twisted Citron for background  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Green gems, MFT Die-namics Wild Greenery, Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets, Spellbinders Essential Arches (for sentiment), Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Bunny Smiles

I wouldn't want you to think I was done with the bunnies yet.  Well, here's another one, and it's a cutie.  It had me smiling and I hope it does the same for you.

She's from the Simon Says Stamp Woodland Whimsy set.  We go back a few years and I've loved the set lots, but I'm not sure I've used the bunny before.  Isn't she pretty with her flowers?

The flowers come with the set, and I've combined some stitched circles with butterflies, gems, and Mintay designer paper from my stash.  All older stuff that still brings me joy.  That's why we do this, isn't it?  She's colored with Copics and popped up on foam tape.  I added stamped sprinkles with the very old SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds set.  Heaven forbid I should ever be without my Itty Bitty Backgrounds!

Enjoy your day!

Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Woodland Whimsy, Penny Black Thinking of You, Stampin Up Itty Bitty Backgrounds (sprinkles)  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb & 110 lb, yellow scrap, Mintay Farm Life designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black & Rich Cocoa  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Lil' Inker Silly Stitched Die Set, Memory Box Stitched Circle Layers, Impression Obsession Butterfly Set, gems, linen thread, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Chickadees

Hello and happy Friday to you!

One recent day I was at Simon Says Stamp looking for something else entirely when I spotted the Chickadee Gathering embossing folder.  Well, it had to come home with me as birds are one of my many weaknesses when it comes to craft supplies.  I embossed on hot pressed watercolor paper and watercolored with Tombow markers and Stampin' Up reinkers.

There's a die for the birds which gives slightly more dimension.  When the coloring was finished I had another go at the white splatters.  I didn't want it to look as if it was snowing, but with the splatters and the large white sentiment I hoped to lighten up the overall appearance.  The Thinking of You sentiment is an older one, also Simon Says Stamp.

I'd like to play along in some favorite challenges today:

Triple B -- Birds, blooms, and butterflies.  Use one or all.  It seems I almost always use birds for this challenge.

NBUS Challenge #74 -- Never before used schtuff... that's my Chickadee Gathering embossing folder.

 

 

I'm heading out to the garden now.  The weather has been beautiful and I'm planting pots and puttering in the backyard where the deer can't go.  There's much to be done in the rest of the garden, too.  I'm hoping this spring and summer will be better than last with no unfortunate surprises.

Take care and enjoy your day!