Tweet Embossed Birthday

Hello, and happy Monday!  I have a very pastel birthday card to share today.  I'm still enjoying the March kit from Simon Says Stamp.  The embossing folder here, the stamps, the silver cord are all from the kit.  Honestly, this embossing folder was a huge selling point for me.  It's so pretty!

For this card I embossed on hot pressed watercolor paper and colored with Tombow markers and blender.  I kept it very pastel because if I was going to use it as a background I didn't want it to compete with the focal image.  Silly me, this folder deserves to be the main image with only a sentiment, perhaps.  However, the little bird and birdbath looks cute, too.

 

This angle shows how the "birthday" sentiment and the little music notes are silver-embossed to match the silver cord.  The bird and birdbath were embossed in white so they wouldn't be too stark a contrast.  The sentiment and music notes are cut with the matching dies (not included in the kit), but I hand cut the bird and birdbath.

Surprise(!) -- I used a bit of lace from my shoebox-sized container of lace and trims.  That's not counting the drawerful of ribbon.  Most of the lace and trims are from my days of sewing dolls and doll clothes and stuffed critters.  It was fun while it lasted.

I'm going to send my card to the following challenges:

Can You Handle the Pressure -- The current optional theme is "weather".  I think this card suggest a pretty spring day with blossoms blowing in the breeze... that's the weather outside my window as I type this.  The wind through the cherry tree is sending pink snow across the garden.
NBUS #73 -- Never before used schtuff.  First time use of the embossing folder.

 

Supplies are listed below.

Wishing you a beautiful spring day!

Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Tweet Friend with dies  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Neenah white card base  Ink:  Versamark, SU Tempting Turquoise  Coloring:  Tombow markers with blender  Other:  SSS Drifting Flowers 3D embossing folder, lace, silver cord, silver embossing powder, white embossing powder, misc. rectangle die from stash, Scotch brand foam mounting tape to pop up bird and birdbath

Seize the Birthday -- Stenciling

Hello, friends!  I'm back with my final post as Special Guest Designer for Seize the Birthday.  It's been a fun time creating for the themes.  A challenge so often makes you reach for things you may not have thought of otherwise, and that has been the case for me.  Today the theme is "Stenciling".

If stenciling is not your thing, don't let that stop you.  Alternatively it's always "anything goes as long as it's a birthday card".  We'd love to have you play along!

Nestled into my basket of not-yet-used Penny Black stamps (yes, they have their own full basket) was this lovable guy from a mini-set called Birthday Bundles.  You can't not love that face!  I colored him with Copics and made a wide frame using rectangle dies.

The frame is where the stenciling comes in.  It's a Simon Says Stamp star stencil, but I've somehow lost the name of it.  The stencil is half stars/half dots so I had to move it around to get full coverage.  I added die cut stars and sparkled all the die cut and stamped stars with Diamond Stickles.

This looks like a boy card so I'll add it to my masculine category and pass it along to a friend.

Hop over to Seize the Birthday and say "hello" to the team and enjoy their fabulous line up of birthday cards while you're there.  I am so appreciative of the opportunity to design along with them for the last four challenges.

Thank you for visiting.  Wishing you a happy day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Birthday Bundles  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb, SU Elegant Eggplant  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Stickles Diamond glitter glue, Spellbinders Fluted Classic Rectangles dies (only used the plain ones for frame), MFT Die-namics Star Stax, miscellaneous rectangle die for sentiment, SSS Star Stencil (name unknown)

Three Poinsettias for Christmas Kickstart

Hello!  Easter is done and now on to Christmas.  Well, not really, but it's time for me to get some cards done, so I looked to the Christmas Kickstart Challenge where they're asking for Poinsettias.  I made three cards with dies.

The first is Altenew's Poinsettia 3D.  Cut from designer paper, and brushed with ink.  The background is embossed with Spellbinders Christmas Wrap Pattern embossing folder, also brushed with ink.  Other parts from my stash, most notably the ribbon (!).  I still have a lot of ribbon taking up valuable craft room real estate.  Every few years I purge a little more of it.

The next card is very simple, with a Memory Box Poinsettia Ribbon that's been in my collection for years and it's seen a lot of use.  I cut an extra from patterned paper for the petals.  They're lifted at the tips, but it's not apparent in the photo.  The flower center is a punched circle coated in gloss.  Gloss on the red berries, too.

Last is actually the first card I made in the group and I would have been happy making all three like this, maybe different colors.  I cut the Tutti Designs Poinsettia Corner once, coated it with Versamark ink and embossed in gold.  Embossed the sentiment the same.  The center panel is Cougar Natural cardstock.  I gave it dimension by layering a few strips of cardstock behind it.  Not so much as foam tape, but it makes a difference.  The card base is brushed metallic, a soft gold.

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #97 -- Positively Poinsettias

The landscapers are finally here to put our yard back together after the sewer line repair, and we have out of town visitors today, so I'm in a bit of a rush just now.  It will all come together eventually.  I hope to visit everyone soon, and be back here later this week.  Take care and enjoy your day!

Folk Art Easter Bunny

Hello!  I know you're all busy with Easter weekend and, if so, maybe you'll stop by later.  It's quiet here.  No little ones or Easter visitors, and that's just fine.  Monday the landscaper is scheduled to start and we have company coming on Tuesday.  It will be a busy week!

I have one more Easter card to share.  I enjoyed making it with my Cottage Cutz Folk Art Rabbit (first time use), and a few additional pretty elements from my stash.

Cottage Cutz Happy Easter Phrase, Poppystamps Floral Dotted Border, partial cut IO Grass Border

I clear-embossed the sentiment and added Diamond Stickles over it, as well as on the yellow flower centers.  Sorry the sparkle doesn't show.  A leftover strip from Spellbinders Criss Cross Motif 3D embossing folder adds a textural border.

More designer paper from The Vast Hoard -- yay!  I have a weakness for woodgrain, whether in cardstock, embossing folders, or designer paper.  This pretty piece comes from a 6x6 pad of Polkadoodles Peeling Paint papers that's been in The Hoard for a few years.  It was just right for an Easter card.

Challenges:

Love Those Pretty Papers
NBUS Challenge #73 -- My Folk Art Rabbit is never before used.

 

Have a happy Easter weekend!

Easter Bunnies

Hello there!  I can hardly believe I've only used these sweet bunnies once before.  I had plans for them other than Easter, but then they were put away... you know how that goes.  Well, they're out enjoying the fresh air now.

Cheery Lynn Bunnies (out of business)
Spellbinders retired Homespun die set for basket
New Simon Says Stamp Pretty Bows
Impression Obsession Grass Border and Tall Grass
Poppystamps Stitched Main Street Tags
Cottage Cutz Happy Easter Phrase for the eggs and flowers

I used brushes and sponges for coloring, and a cloud stencil for the sky.

I'm sharing in the following challenges:

The Neglected Stuff Challenge -- My poor neglected bunnies.
A Cut Above, April -- Anything goes with a die cut

 

Our son was down visiting for his birthday weekend.  As I was finishing up today's card he popped in and snapped a picture with his phone.  He used an AI app to turn it into this cartoon rendition:

It's more or less the general idea.  That's not my face, by the way, but the clothes are fairly accurate.  It's all just for fun and it made me smile so thought I'd share with you.

Have a happy day!

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