Endless Summer

Hi there!  Back to card making today and happy to have a good play with some of my newer NBUS.  I started with the Simon Says Stamp Ocean Horizon die which I thought was the coolest thing.  Who knows what will appeal at any given time, but this one really got to me.  I couldn't help but combine it with one of my recently purchased Cottage Cutz super sale items -- Surfer Van.

The Endless Summer is a 1966 semi-documentary film about surfing.  I've never watched all of it, but my Rich has watched it a few times over the years and still watches clips on YouTube now and then.  He was a surfer guy in his youth and he enjoys reliving the thrill of it.  Naturally, I made this card with him in mind.

l tried using this background die three different ways and as far as the application of color goes, this is my favorite.  I cut the die -- it comes out in 16 pieces, including the skinny frame -- then I glued each piece to a separate white panel, and commenced brushing on the inks.  I like the way the edges of each die cut section grabs the ink.  It's subtle, but it makes a difference.  The colors I used are similar to those on the die package.  All Stampin' Up inks.  I'll list them below.  I hand cut a sandy beach on which to park the van.

I'll be sending my endless summer over to the following challenges:

A Cut Above -- Anything goes with dies.
NBUS Challenge #78 -- Never before used schtuff.  As mentioned, the Surfer Van and Ocean Horizon dies are NBUS.

 

Wrapping up now... I'll be back shortly to share what I've made.  Things are hopping here with lots going on and I'm surprised to have made any cards at all, but glad I'm able to manage it somehow.

Take care, and stay cool!

Dies:  Cottage Cutz Surfer Van, Simon Says Stamp Ocean Horizon
Inks:  Stampin' Up (top to bottom) Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie, Pixie Pink, Melon Mambo, Purely Pomegranate, Cool Caribbean, Not Quite Navy, Creamy Caramel, Gable Green.  Memento Tuxedo Black for sentiment
Coloring:  Ink blending with brushes.  Small parts of van colored with Copic markers

Sophie and Ridley Update

Hello! I've been working on cards for next week, but Saturday seems like a good time for an update on the kids.  The first picture is the most recent I have, and it represents how we start our days.  Just look at these two, sigh... I cannot complain that two such beautiful, soft, warm, loving creatures are this eager to see us first thing in the morning.

The first week or two Ridley was given plenty of opportunity to explore his new home and garden and learn how amazing it all is.  I hope his brother has found a good home as well.

Of course, we had to take him to the sand dunes at the first opportunity.  Sophie is SO happy to share her joy with Ridley!

It's as though Sophie has been waiting for him all this time.  She mothers him, teaches him, loves him.  She's always been a very special girl, but Ridley has truly brought out the best in her.

My heart is full.

💗💗💗💗💗💖💗💗💗💗💗

Double D Challenge: Make Your Own Background

Welcome to another Double D Challenge, friends!  Our DD host, Darlene, is asking that we make our own backgrounds for this challenge.  What a great idea!  See our inspiration board:

Creative winners are by team vote, and the prize pictured below will go to a random winner.

I do have a background or two or 100 in my bag o' backgrounds.  The one I've used today was made quite some time ago on glossy cardstock with Stampin' Up inks and 91% alcohol.  Not sure which method I used for this one.  Most likely I soaked either a cotton ball or a small wad of paper towel with alcohol, then dropped reinker onto the wad, and pounced on the cardstock.  Maybe I dropped ink and spritzed with alcohol, or dropped alcohol and tipped the cardstock to spread it around.  If you've ever made an alcohol ink background, it's rather like that.

Does anyone still make alcohol ink backgrounds?  I never invested in the alcohol inks, but I had fun experimenting with this method.

I cut into the background with three parts of the years old Cheery Lynn Dutch Daisy Boutique Stacker A2 Frame to create the effect of a screen.  I was hoping the Memory Box Graceful Anemone was large and impactful enough to hold its own against the busy background.  Maybe it's just me, but I love it a lot.

A little bit of gold adds a lot of pretty, doesn't it?

When looking through my backgrounds collection I wondered why in the world I don't use more of them.  That's what's nice about a challenge -- it oftentimes sends us in a direction we haven't traveled in a while.

I hope you'll visit the Double D blog to see the team's samples and be inspired to share one of your backgrounds with us.

Have a beautiful day!

Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions with dies  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest 80 & 110 lb, glossy white  Ink:  Stampin' Up Lavender Lace, Old Olive, Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black, various for inky background  Coloring:  Ink blending with brushes  Dies:  Memory Box Graceful Anemone, Cheery Lynn Dutch Daisy Boutique Stacker A2 Frame  Other:  91% alcohol, Ranger Princess Gold embossing powder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Christmas Kickstart Reminder, Sept. 2025

Hi!  I'm back with a reminder for Jo's Christmas Kickstart Challenge where the current theme is Santa in September.  So much fun!

  

I put another of my not-yet-used Cottage Cutz Santas to work.  This one is called Upside Down Santa and, as you can see, he's gotten himself into a predicament.

I wonder how he'll get out of this one?  You know he'll manage somehow because he's got a busy night ahead of him!

The icicles and sentiment are also Cottage Cutz dies, and the window is from Simon Says Stamp.  Everything is listed in the recipe.  I added Diamond Glaze to the lights and glitter to the sentiment and snow.  Lots of texture and sparkle in real life!

It's times like this I'm glad I have a lot of sentiment stamps.  I was able to cobble together a giggle for the inside.

Okay, friends, there's still time to share in all the Santa fun we're having over at Christmas Kickstart.  Happy Christmas in September!

Stamps:  Combo of Impression Obsession Dear Santa and retired Power Poppy for inside sentiment  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar white 80 & 110 lb, something red (Bazzill?), black scrap  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up gray and yellow inks for window  Coloring:  Copics  Dies:  Cottage Cutz Upside Down Santa, Oh No Kitty (sentiment), Icicle Set, Simon Says Stamp Window Trio  Other:  Tim Holtz Sizzix Brick Wall embossing folder, JudiKins Diamond Glaze on Christmas lights, Diamond Stickles on snow, Black Diamond Stickles on die cut sentiment

The Flower Challenge Sketch

Hello friends!  How about some spring flowers in fall?  The Flower Challenge is a welcoming place for flowers year 'round, and this month they've given us a sketch for starters.  I'd set aside Penny Black's Good Wish Bouquet for NBUS coloring and I figured I could make it work with the sketch.

Here's the basic idea:

I added the band on the left to cover an unstamped edge.  The background is Hero Arts Leafy Vines.  I used blending brushes to apply inks to the stamp in my MISTI, and was pleasantly surprised at what a nice job it did.  Colors are listed in the recipe.

The flower stamp and butterflies are watercolored with Twinkling H2Os on 140 lb hot pressed WC paper.  I hand cut the flower and vase.  This set is part of a group I've stamped with intentions of coloring, cutting out, and setting aside to be made into cards as time allows.  I need this outlet, and it's nice to have something creative/crafty in the works for whenever I have a few or a lot of minutes.

I've also simplified the photo process -- same set up every time, no props.  I'm feeling optimistic as opposed to overwhelmed.

I'm sending my card and a big thanks to the following challenges.  The administrators and DTs put a lot of work into these challenges and I do appreciate it.

The Flower Challenge:  Use the Sketch
NBUS #78 -- Never before used schtuff -- That would be my Penny Black Good Wish Bouquet
Penny Black Saturday Challenge -- Optional spots and/or stripes

And one more per Lisa's friendly reminder:

Just Us Girls #792 -- Word Week -- Container

    

A big thanks to all of you, too, for stopping by.  What would I do without my crafty friends?  Group hug!

Stamps:  Penny Black Good Wish Bouquet, Hero Arts Leafy Vines  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot pressed watercolor, Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, SU Old Olive  Ink:  Ranger Archival Watering Can for flowers, Memento Tuxedo Black for sentiment, SU Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun for background  Coloring:  Watercolor with Twinkling H2Os  Other:  Memory Box Stitched Circle Layers, Impression Obsession Butterfly Set, SU Subtle 3D embossing folder, Honey Bee gems

Mushrooms for Autumn

Hello everyone!  I'm happy to share my first fall card of the (almost) season.  We still have a few days of summer left so I'm not letting it go yet, but I do love fall cards.

I've had this Spellbinders Mushrooms From Me To You 3D emboss & cut folder for approximately a year.  I bought the Scallop Labels and Tag dies at the same time and have used them quite a lot, but this is the first time for the mushrooms.  I don't have a good excuse for why I waited so long.  It's so cool how it works!  The dies go right into the folder with the paper so it literally cuts and embosses at the same time.  I guess I was under a rock again because I did not expect that.

So this is my result after simultaneously cutting and embossing, then "painting" with Tombow markers and blender, and embossing again just for good measure.  After all that I decided to smoosh it all over with Versamark ink and emboss with ultra-thick embossing enamel.  Loved it.  Slipped it into the folder and embossed again.

I embossed the entire folded grocer's kraft card base with my Tim Holtz Lumber 3D embossing folder.  Lined the inside with vanilla cardstock and will save the sentiment for later.

With all this embossing going on I naturally want to share in the Can You Handle the Pressure Challenge.  It's plain to see I did not go with the optional "Balloons" twist.

I'm also sharing in the following challenges:

The Four Seasons Challenge -- Fall
NBUS Challenge #78 -- Never before used schtuff -- Mushrooms From Me To You 3D emboss & cut folder

  

Thanks so much for visiting.  It's been busy as ever here, especially now that Ridley has joined the family.  Two Golden Retrievers are definitely better than one!  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  None  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Stampin' Up Old Olive, grocers kraft, Cougar Vanilla  Ink:  Versamark for wet embossing  Coloring:  Tombow markers and blender  Other:  Spellbinders Mushrooms From Me To You 3D emboss and cut folder, Tim Holtz Sizzix Lumber 3D embossing folder, Spellbinders Scallop Labels and Tag dies, Ranger Ultra-Thick Embossing Enamel

Double D Challenge: Music Theme

 

What a fun challenge the Double Ds have for us today!  It's a music theme, as I'm sure you've already determined, but there are so many possibilities -- sheet music, musical instruments, singers and songs (be sure to tell us which song you've used) -- let your imagination have fun with it!

As always there's a prize for a random winner.  Today it's a cool Spellbinders Cable Knit stencil.  Creative favorites are voted on by the team.

At this point I'm taking every opportunity to get another Christmas card done, and I had all kinds of fun putting this one together.  I've used a Memory Box bear, landscape, and sentiment, with an oldie music border die overhead.  The music border had been cut from an inky, glossy background and set aside, forgotten, long ago.  It's what determined my color scheme, and I'm all the happier for it!

You're probably familiar with the song, "Winter Wonderland".  My bear might be happier on an ice floe, but she seems to be enjoying the current change of scenery.  What's a winter wonderland without a little sparkle?  You may not be able to see it in the photo, but I added red Stickles to the holly berries, and Diamond Stickles to the landscape.

Sometimes card making is almost too much fun!

Have a look at the fabulous inspiration the Double D team is sharing.  I hope you'll sing along with us!

Have a beautiful day!

Stamps:  Memory Box Holiday Wishes  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up Bashful Blue  Coloring:  Copics  Dies:  Memory Box Wintertime Bear, Evergreen Sky Collage, Yvonne Creations Holly Jolly Music Border  Other:  Diamond and Candy Cane Stickles

Guest Designing with Christmas Kickstart -- Sept. 2025

 

Hello there, and happy September!  I'm honored to be guest designing with Jo at Christmas Kickstart this month.  We're going to have all kinds of fun playing with Santa!

 

I had a few new-to-me-not-yet-used Santas in my collection, mostly from last year, but one or two from this year as well.  I used three of them in an earlier post, and Jo's challenge will see to it that I use the rest of them.  Well... maybe with one tiny little Santa left over.

Today I'm using last year's Layered Festive Santa from Memory Box.  In fact, all the dies and the sentiment are Memory Box.  Everything is listed in the recipe at the end.  There are a lot of parts to this guy, but a lot of fun, as well, if you enjoy that sort of thing, and you know I do enjoy it.

All coloring is Copics, except the presents which were cut from designer paper.  They're a separate die set and not just for Christmas.  With all these parts to deal with I didn't do anything special with the coloring.  The die parts are intended to create their own shading.

That's about the gist of it.  I do have two posts today, a few hours apart.  I'd rather not pile them up on top of each other, but it's just the way it worked out.  I hope you'll see both.

Now I'm hoping I'll see your Santa over at the Christmas Kickstart Challenge!  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Memory Box Holiday Wishes with die  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, scraps designer paper  Ink:  Ranger Archival Watering Can for sentiment  Coloring:  Copics  Dies:  Memory Box Layered Festive Santa, Pretty Presents, Oval Master Frame  Other:  Tim Holtz Sizzix Snowfall embossing folder