Let's Party!

Hello, friends!  I know that you know I love my Penny Black critters.  Lately I've been loving the mice as much as the dogs and cats, and the little hedgies are stepping right up there, too.  Today I have another of my self-made card kit creations.

It's the Time to Celebrate set combined with a Cottage Cutz sentiment die, and using the go-to layout I was having fun with at Christmastime.  I changed it up a little with different dies and an embossed background.

There's lots of party time sparkle on the starbursts, punched circles, and party hats.  Coloring is Copics, including sentiment and stars.

Sparkle inside, too, with a Penny Black Birthday Love sentiment.

With all the spots and dots on my card today I'd like to play along in the following challenge:

Sisterhood of Crafters -- Spots & Dots

Well, that was fun!  I made one more card with this set, but I'll save it for later.  I do so appreciate having this craft and my big toy box as a diversion where all is well and happy.  Thanks for being here with me!

Stamps:  Penny Black Time to Celebrate, Birthday Love  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, retired Memory Box Brioche designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Dies:  Cottage Cutz Fifties Phrases #1 and Nested Wacky Stitched Rectangle Set  Other:  Cuttlebug Seeing Spots embossing folder, 1/8" & 1/4" circle punch, Diamond Stickles

Sweet as Honey

Hi there!  Last month after Christmas cards were finally made n' mailed I sat with my baskets of never before used stamps and made up a few card kits.  For each kit I stamped the images, chose papers and embellishments, and in most cases I prepped the card base to the point that all I had to do was add the focal panel and embellishments.  There are a few different reasons for doing this, but mostly it was just plain fun.

A few days ago I pulled this kit out of the basket and finished the card.  I paired a not-yet-used Unity stamp with an old favorite Spellbinders die combo.  It was all prepped and ready to go with ancient SU designer paper peeking from under the decorative die.  I colored with Copics, then glued the image panel to the card base and added the sentiment and gold sequins.  Sweet as honey!

I'd like to play in the following two challenges

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge -- Anything goes or optional mood board as shown below.
NBUS Challenge #82 -- Never before used schtuff (Unity Sweet as Honey stamp)

 

I'm so glad we could visit today.  We'll get together again real soon, okay?  Take care!

Stamps:  Unity Sweet as Honey, Stampin' Up Itty Bitty Backgrounds (retired)  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, retired SU designer paper  Ink:  Memento London Fog and Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Other: Spellbinders A2 Divine Eloquence and Labels Twenty Eight, gold sequins

Double D Challenge: Friends 2026

Hello again!  Another Double D challenge begins today and it's all about friendship.  I cannot fully express how important my friends are to me.  Whether girlfriends, guy friends, dog friends... I love them all.  Check out our cute inspiration board:

Creative favorites are by team vote, and the DDs have a fun prize for a random winner:

I chose Art Impressions Laughing Set for my card today.  I've used this set so much I'm afraid I'll start sending it to the same people over again.  In the past I would keep a list with a stamp set as to the card recipients, but somehow that practice fell by the wayside, tsk.  At any rate, here they are again:

What fun!  I stamped in Ranger Archival Jet Black on watercolor paper and colored with Tombow markers and blender.  The Panalisa Honey Flower paper has been sitting not yet used in my overflowing paper cupboard too long, but here it is looking just right with the ladies.  I even had a daisy die to bring in for enhancement.  It's very old, but it still does the trick.  Lastly, I added punched circles coated with Diamond Glaze.  Can't help but smile!

The team has made some delightful friendship cards, so head over to Double D and have a look, then share yours with us.

Have a wonderful day!

Stamps:  Art Impressions Laughing Set  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb watercolor, Neenah white for card base and die cut, Panalisa Honey Flower designer paper  Ink:  Ranger Archival Jet Black  Coloring:  Tombow markers and blender  Other:  Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets, die-namites Daisy Bunch, 1/4" and 1/8" hole punches, Scotch brand foam mounting tape to pop up image panel

New Year Update

Hello, friends.  Maybe you've noticed the sparseness of my posts lately.  I'm behind in everything and everywhere I turn there's another job to do, another matter to address.  Do not worry, I'm okay, I've made a few cards and will start posting them soon and then I'll be ready to get behind again.  Isn't that the way it goes sometimes?  As Rich's health grows worse there is more required of me.  Just in the last month there has been a big change and I'm still adjusting.  I'd hoped it was a temporary setback, but perhaps not.  Nevertheless, we keep on enjoying what we can whenever we get a chance to do so.

The photo below was taken the Sunday after Christmas when my son and I took Sophie and Ridley for a fun doggie day in the dunes.  My favorite part of the dunes are the woodland trails where we can walk for miles.  Here we had stopped for a rest in a mossy patch.  You can tell the dogs had been having a good time by how their tongues are hanging.  Our Ridley is growing into a fine young man, isn't he?  He's 8 months old now.

Pictured below is Christmas day -- Sophie wants ALL the toys!

That's all I have for now.  Cards are coming soon.

Happy new year!

Double D Challenge: 10th Birthday Celebration

Hello friends!  The Double D Challenge is celebrating its 10th birthday!  I can hardly believe it.  I started with them on that very first day, then took a break somewhere in the middle, and I've been with them ever since.  I've always had the most fun with this challenge, and Darlene and Diane and the whole team are a treasure.  That's something to celebrate!

We have a pretty mood board for inspiration:

 

The DDs are giving away a nice prize to a random player.  Creative winners, as always, are by team vote.

I made a fun card inspired by the colors in the board, using a Penny Black stamp set and a pretty fabulous Cottage Cutz sentiment die.  You know what happens when The Scrapping Cottage has a sale -- one of their recent sales was 85% off -- that's when I indulge.

The stamps are all fussy cut and glued onto the arch, part of a play session with the PB Time to Celebrate set.  More to come from that play session later.  I cut an arch in the plaid, then fit a white arch into its center.  I'm always making an effort to avoid extra weight yet still have some of the dimension that sets a handmade card apart.

There's glitter on the "i" dot, the punched hearts, the candle flames, and the bees' wings.  I shaded the lower corner with green.

Come celebrate and play with us!  The team has some inspiring celebratory samples to share with you so I do hope you'll stop by the Double D blog and have a look.

Stay safe, stay well, and stay crafty in the new year.  Thank you for visiting!

Stamps:  Penny Black Time to Celebrate  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, Stampin' Up Orchid Opulence (hearts), Memory Box Brioche designer paper  Ink:  Various Stampin' Up, Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics, ink blending with brushes  Other:  Cottage Cutz Fifties Phrases #1, Spellbinders Essential Arches, Diamond Stickles, Stampin' Up 3 in 1 heart punch

Vintage Rose

Hello there.  I've been a little off kilter recently, but today I'm treating myself to a visit with you, my crafty friends.  I have a card I made before Christmas, but didn't take the time to photograph and post.  Maybe I can get back on track now.  I was fiddling around with designer paper and the split front technique.  I added the band along the edge and it seemed to expand the design possibilities.  I do believe I'll be making more of these.

The patterned paper is an Amazon find via Pinterest ad from earlier this year.  I smudged the edges and sanded the paper to give it a timeworn look.  Untouched by time, however is the Penny Black Enchantingly flower.  I was testing out some new-to-me paper for Copic coloring and ink blending.  It's 100 lb Hammermill Premium Color Copy -- bright white and very smooth.  I love this paper and, let's get practical for a moment, the price point makes it all the more desirable.  Many of you are already using this particular Hammermill paper and know of its excellent quality.

I hope to see you again soon.  My apologies if I haven't been around to visit.  Things are just a little off here right now.  Please bear with me.

Happy new year to you!

Stamps:  Penny Black Enchantingly w/matching dies  Paper:  Hammermill 100 lb Premium, Bazzill hammered Herbal Garden Dark, designer paper from Amazon   Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up Apricot Appeal for sentiment, Creamy Caramel to brush paper edges  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Impression Obsession For You die, copper nail heads 

Four Cards, Same Layout

Hi, friends!  Today I'm sharing the last four 2025 Christmas cards I've made and mailed.  I fell back on an old favorite go-to layout and I have to say it was wonderful fun!  Easy cards, nothing spectacular, just a little designer paper and simple dies.  It was liberating.

Lately I've enjoyed making basic card designs and setting them aside for future use.  I like today's design for its versatility -- change the size or orientation, dress it up any which way.  For the basic design I used Spellbinders Fluted Classic Rectangles and Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets.

First we have Spellbinders Conrad Cardinal and Penny Black's Joy Edger.  Love me some Conrad!  It's a first time use for him.  You can't see his eye because it's closed.  He's so cute!

Older dies were used for the next card -- Memory Box Bauble Snowflakes and a retired Stampin' Up sentiment die.

Another -- exactly the same as Card #2, but with different designer paper.

Finally, I had a paper-covered card base sitting in my spare parts for maybe 2 years.  I pulled it out and added the center parts from the same paper pack.  The extra paper changed the look quite a bit.  I featured a not-yet-used Cottage Cutz Deer Set and a rather funky branch from Tim Holtz Sizzix Holiday Greens, Mini.  The sentiment was die cut from one of the commercial cards we received from someone sometime.  Just a little bit of recycling.

Well, that was fun!  I'm ready to get back to non-Christmas cards now as I stamped a LOT of NBUS and bagged them up individually with potential fixin's for their cards.  I always get excited when the Christmas cards are finished!

Sharing here:

NBUS Challenge #81 -- My never before used schtuff today is Conrad Cardinal on the first card and the Cottage Cutz deer on the fourth card.

Take care and enjoy your weekend, however you choose to spend it!

Double D Challenge: Santa and/or Snowman

Hello!  Are you ready for Christmas and another Double D Challenge?  I'm fairly well settled in, but it was touch and go for a while there.  Every year I declare it will be different and it most definitely is different, but not necessarily in the way I'd hoped.  You know how it goes.

I'm still loving the fun of it, though, such as the smiles I get when looking at the mood board below.  Darlene has challenged us to show "Santas and/or Snowmen".  That's fun!  

The team votes on creative favorites, and there's a pretty little stencil for a random winner:

Snowmen don't have to be for Christmas, but I can't help but think of them that way.  It's a rare year that we get any snow at all here so my snowmen will have to live happily on my cards.  This is a Bugaboo digi stamp that's been printed and lounging in my digi box for I-don't-know-how-long.  I think this wintry crew made up into a pretty cute Christmas card!

I lightened before printing and then colored with Copics.  Added Diamond Stickles for sparkle.  Keeping it simple and fun.  Gee, I didn't even embellish.  Some die cut snowflakes would have been cute, tsk.  Nevertheless, I'm happy with it.  Sometimes I forget how much I love coloring.  There will be more in the future.

I'll finish up here and give you a chance to check out all the cute snowman and Santa samples at Double D.  I hope you'll have time to play along!

Take care and enjoy the rest of your holiday!

Stamps:  Bugaboo (out of business) Snowman Trio digital stamp  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, Stampin' Up Ruby Red, stash designer paper  Ink:  Printer  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets, Spellbinders Tinsel Time Sentiments, Diamond Stickles