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

Double D Challenge: Baa-Cluck-Moo-Neigh-Oink-Quack (Any or All)

Hello everyone!  I'm back with another Double D challenge today, playing along with Diane's theme:  Baa-Cluck-Moo-Neigh-Oink-Quack (Any or All).  I mean, really, how fun is that theme?  I love it!  Check out the mood board:

My card has a baa, an oink, and a couple of quacks.  Also a woof, a squeak, a chirp, and that goofy sound a goat makes when it waggles its tongue at you.  I used an old woodblock Art Impressions stamp which I don't think has a name on it, but I'm going to call it Farm Animals.  I colored with Copics, fussy cut, and used lots of dies, a brick wall stencil, and a bit of designer paper to make a house front and window.

See how the window appears to be lifted open.  Just some cutting and layering of the die at work there.  I wonder what's so interesting inside?  This is a lucky pig to have such good friends helping him out.

The stamp is a two part affair -- one for the back and one for the front -- so you see the following when you open the card:

You can reverse and put the face on the front of the card and the other inside, but after going to all this trouble I definitely wanted most of it on the front.  I don't know if Art Impressions still makes these front and back stamps.

A random prize winner gets the following very fun stamp:

What a deal!  The team also votes for creative favorites.  Be sure to visit the Double D blog and check out how much fun the team had with this theme.  I sure hope we'll see your card in the gallery!

Enjoy your day!

Supplies:  Too numerous to list (sheesh) and mostly retired -- 2 stamps, 6 dies, 1 stencil, decorative edge scissors, designer paper, cardstock, on and on and on...

Laugh Louder

Hi there!  A brief pop in today to share a card I made for my sister/friend's birthday.  She's not actually my sister, but she might as well be... we're that close.

I don't know how many more times I can use this Art Impressions Laughing Set, seeing as how I've sent these girls out to so many people already.  I've got a bazillion sentiments I can use with them, and this sentiment is from Your Next Stamp, called Whatnot Sentiments Eleven.  Could there be any more truth in that sentiment?  I do love to laugh!

My laughing girls were watercolored with Gansai Tambi paints, plus the occasional Tombow marker when it was handy for the smaller spots or when I needed a color not in my paint tray.  You can mix the paints to change colors, but the marker is much easier.

It's a simple card.  Just some flower sequins and a stitched border.  So quick it made my head spin!

I hope you get a chance to laugh today.  Take care!

Stamps:  Art Impressions Laughing Set, Your Next Stamp Whatnot Sentiments Eleven  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, other card base  Ink:  Palette Noir  Coloring:  Watercolor with Gansai Tambi and Tombow markers  Other:  Lil' Inker Silly Stitched Die Set, Queen & Co sequins

For My Favorite Old Goat

Hello, friends!  As usual, I like to start the week with something fun, so today I'm sharing my husband's birthday card.  I used an Art Impressions set called Old Goat.  Very fun and perfect for my own old goat.

Nothing clean and simple about this.  It's a party on a card and isn't it fun?  I debated on whether or not to include the designer paper, but it won out and I'm glad.

I colored once again with Tombow markers and no water.  This one was more of a struggle because the watercolor paper I used is not so great.  I've been trying to use it up for backgrounds and die cuts, but thought I'd try it with the Tombows.  It doesn't matter what coloring medium you're using, the paper makes all the difference.  Use good paper!

It's been a busy card making month for me and I'm not done yet.  It's a big month for birthdays, fall, cards, and Halloween... and coming up is something from Power Poppy that Marcella's been working on diligently, barely coming up for air... the team will be sharing soon.  Busy, busy!

You all take care, stay safe, enjoy life however you can.  We'll come back here and do this again soon!

Stamps:  Art Impressions Old Goat  Paper:  Poor quality watercolor paper that is almost impossible to blend inks on, Prima Julie Nutting designer paper  Ink:  Palette Noir  Coloring:  Tombow water-based markers (no water)  Other:  Hero Arts Wood Frame, Memory Box Banner Parade, Spellbinders Classic Ovals Small

Monday Fun Day: I Fell off the Diet Wagon

Happy Monday!  Need a laugh?  Art Impressions girlfriends met up with Riley & Company Funny Bones for this one:

There's something about staying at home that makes me want to cook and bake yummy things.  It's not hard for me to ignore all the store bought treats Rich enjoys, but when something is homemade my brain tells me that if I went to all the trouble to make it, I really should eat it.  Darn brain!

Additionally, a flare up of sciatica is making any exercise difficult.  I still walk, but not far.  It mostly hurts in my hip and knee and I'm sure hoping it's only sciatica.  Actually, it's getting better, so I'm eager to start on longer walks and some big jobs outside.  I've been on the diet wagon and it's not a fun ride.  I'd rather burn off the calories... wishful thinking, probably.

If you want to sit in front of your computer and laugh out loud, just check out more Riley & Company sentiments here.  The girlfriends are from Art Impressions Laughing set.  I haven't had them very long, but I've colored them many times already.

Oh, by the way, I used Tombow markers for watercoloring, and the border is Lil' Inker Silly Stitched Die Set.  Rhinestones from my stash.  I hope you're smiling!  Have a great day!

Old Goats for Girls

Hey, there!  Billies or nannies... did you know both goat genders have horns?  They both have beards, too.  I had to look it up.  These goats are part of the Old Goat Set from Art Impressions.  I've had it a while, but was full up on guy birthday cards so it just sat around waiting its turn till my friend suggested there was no reason it couldn't be used for girlfriends.  Hmmm... why didn't I think of that?

I had a not-yet-used card layout and an ornate white mat in my card parts drawer.  Put them together and they made an adequate base for this bunch of birthday well wishers which I colored with Copics and fussy cut.  The sentiment and the balloons are popped up.

Speaking of those balloons... they appear as though I might have colored them and left white highlights, or perhaps added white gel pen when, in fact, each is cut from plain old colored card stock and coated with Glossy Accents.  The white highlights simply appeared in the photo.  Very cool!

Moving right along... I'll be back when stamping happens.  My billies/nannies and I wish you a happy day!

Stamps:  Art Impressions Old Goat Set  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, textured white, scraps colored card stock, Prima Fairy Flora designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copic markers  Accessories:  Inkssentials Glossy Accents, oval punch, corner punch, Scotch brand foam mounting tape  Dies:  Spellbinders Floral Ovals, Impression Obsession Balloons

Double D Challenge: 12 Days of Christmas, Part 2

It's playtime with Double D, so let's have some fun with this one!  We're doing Part 2 of The Twelve Days of Christmas:

7th Day    Seven Swans A Swimming

8th Day    Eight Maids A Milking

9th Day    Nine Ladies Dancing

10th Day    Ten Lords A Leaping

11th Day    Eleven Pipers Piping

12th Day    Twelve Drummers Drumming

We always have creative winners, plus a prize for a lucky random winner:








PLEASE KEEP IN MIND that your card or project does not have to be for Christmas and it only needs to be inspired by the mood board.  It does not have to be a match, specifically.  Case in point:  I was inspired by "Ten lords a leaping", but I have only one lord a leaping.

Meet Harv from Art Impressions.  We go way back.  He just heard the news that "old is the new young", and he's pretty darned excited.  Can you tell?

I colored him with Copics and then fussy cut so I could arrange him on the card with some other fun goodies which I'll list in the recipe below my signature.  The hanging presents were cut from an alcohol ink background which looked odd as a whole, but awesome as a die cut.

I have a bunch of sentiments that go great with Harv, and this one is actually from another Art Impressions set called Loads of Fun.  I won it recently and haven't had a chance to use it yet because, well... Christmas.

It's a busy time for all, but I hope you can play along.  Visit my teamies on the Double D blog for more fun inspiration.

One more thing:

I'm afraid this is my last post with the Double D team, sniff sniff.  Yes, I am sad about that, even though it was a carefully thought out decision.  This was my first ever challenge team and it's been a great experience.  Darlene and Diane and everyone on the team are the BEST!  I'm just whittling down my commitments to free up some time for other things.  Thanks to this challenge gig I have new friends, so thank you Double D!

Happy day to all!

Stamps:  Art Impressions Harv and Loads of Fun  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, glossy white (for alcohol inks), turquoise textured  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, various alcohol inks  Coloring:  Copics  Accessories:  Cuttlebug Happy Birthday embossing folder  Dies:  Die-namites Hanging Presents, Sue Wilson Pierced Flags, Memory Box Oval Master Frame (used just the inner oval)

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Hi there!  I hope it was a beautiful day in your neighborhood.  We've been enjoying a rather nice fall here and not believing it's November already.  I suppose the rain will start soon enough, but for the time being, it's looking a lot like the blue sky and green grass pictured below.

I wasn't sure I'd have time to use my Art Impressions Feast Mode set again this season so I colored all the rest of the critters into one scene.

It took a village of Gansai Tambi paints and Tombow markers to get it all watercolored, then I just stitched it up and put it on a grocer's kraft card base. 

This represents Days 4 and 5 of The 30 Day Coloring Challenge.  I've been keeping up with the coloring, but it sometimes takes a while to get them posted.   Some days I can do a whole card, some days I can get only part of an image colored.  On Thursday I had a routine medical procedure and felt awful the whole rest of the day, so no coloring was done at all.  Today I'm feeling good and back to my usual morning coloring before the rest of the day takes hold.

I'll be back with the Twofer Challenge on Sunday, the 10th.  I hope you're having a good day!

Spooktacular Halloween

Happy Halloween!  This is the last of the Halloween cards.  I wasn't sure I was going to get these made... always with the high hopes and plans, and then other things get in the way.  We suddenly up and bought a new range and refrigerator and they're being delivered this morning.  That means I did a lot of cleaning yesterday -- you know how you always clean before the maid comes.  Hahahaha!  How many of you have a maid?

Today I've used another Art Impressions set.  This one is called Spooktacular and I have no idea when it was released, but it's new to me.  For several days now I've had the "Monster Mash" song stuck in my head. 

All coloring is with Copics.  This one is simple in design.  I drew the border and punched the corners.  The splatters are a favorite old SU! stamp which I'll never part with -- Itty Bitty Backgrounds.

Next card... I cut a Marianne Designs Anja's Oval die from CTMH  Majestic Mountain cardstock, sanded and glued onto a same color card base.  The sanding roughed up the die a bit much and tore some of the lattice, but I thought it went with the whole Halloween-spooky-old-house-with-a-mummy-creeping-around theme.

I really must run off now as I have a whole lot of other things to do.  Leaving you with the "Monster Mash" song so you can get it stuck in your head, too.

Wishing you a frightfully delightful day!

Fright Night Flight

Another card, another day closer to Halloween.  I returned to my Art Impressions Fright Night set for this one -- the same set I used for the two ghost cards on Monday.  Now I'll have to put it away for another whole year, but I'm happy to say I used every stamp in the set, considering the inside sentiments.

I made one of the funny/weird backgrounds I've been playing with off and on recently.

• After I stamped the images and sentiment in Memento Tuxedo Black I traced a circle in light pencil around it.
• Colored the background outside the circle rather loosely with Copics BV01, BV02, BV04; the darker color toward the bottom.
• The next step was to use a skinny eyedropper to randomly drop Colorless Blender fluid onto the background, making some effort to avoid letting the colors run into the circle.
• Edged inside the traced circle with the BV Copics -- BV01, BV000, BV0000

The moon looks a little bit like a big bubble, but I like it.

I colored the image, added the Memory Box Estate Fence and finished up the card with the same Doodlebug Halloween papers I've been using for years.

The cards I make are the only Halloween happenings at our house.  We may get a couple of trick-or-treaters (friends), but most kids don't come down our street.  The whole length of it runs along the edge of the dark and scary woods and there are a couple of empty houses, one of which is essentially abandoned.  I know, it's lovely.  No street lights on our block, either.  I had no idea kids were still trick-or-treating in the general area, but last year when we went for after dinner sniffy walk with Wally and LuLu we were surprised to see all kinds of Halloween activity around the corner.  All these years... sheesh!

I'll be back tomorrow with the last of the Halloween cards.  Have a good day!

Ghostly Greetings

Hello and welcome to Halloween week!  I have new-to-me Halloween stamps this year and I aim to use them.  The thing is, I went looking for a Halloween sentiment set -- no plans to buy anything else -- and I ended up with the sentiment set, plus 3 more sets with images, plus a single wood block stamp.  I know!  Then I won a cute little House Mouse stamp, and so here I am -- Halloween Week.

My arm is still hurting when I overuse it, but I'm managing.  Oddly, it's the smaller movements such as mousing and coloring that hurt it the most, so everything is being accomplished in shorter intervals.  These cards are easy coloring and quick designs, finished one day at a time.  The stamp set is new this year from Art Impressions, called Fright Night.  I adore these fun-loving, friendly ghosts!

Party in the woods!  These guys are three sheets to the wind, as the sentiment says.  Hilarious!  I brushed the background with Distress Oxide inks, then framed with Memory Box Grand Forest Archway.  Do you see the spider webs in the tree branches?

This next one says "spooky", but it's really not.  That face!  Ghosts just wanna have fun.  Okay, maybe the spiders and webs are a little creepy.

I think you can see where Wink of Stella was added -- spiders, banner, "spooky".  I also added Stickles Stardust to all the purple dots... just to make it even friendlier.  Spiders are Poppystamps Spider Banner, paper is something older by Doodlebug.  I cut the image panel with Lil' Inker Silly Stitched Die Set.

You know I had fun with these, don't you?  There's more coming tomorrow.  I'm hoping for something every day through Halloween, but we'll see how my arm and time hold up.  Thanks for stopping by and checking up on me!  I hope we'll all have fun this week.

Squirrel Feast

Oh, what fun, I cracked open the seal on a new Art Impressions stamp set!  It's called Feast Mode and I love it to pieces.  There are four critters and lots of sentiments in the set.  It even has flowers.  I'm just getting started with today's card.

I colored with Copics and cut the image with a cross stitch die which I'm loving for fall cards this year.  Added some punched hearts and a couple of oak leaves for dimensional decoration.  One heart with leaf is popped up.

You may have guessed this is a Thanksgiving card.  Inside says "May your life be full of thanks and giving".

I'll get back to this set later as I have some other things to color first.  There's still time before Thanksgiving.  Supplies listed below, but the only new thing is the stamp set.

Wishing you a happy day!

Stamps:  Art Impressions Feast Mode  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, Neenah Husk, retired Stampin' Up! designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Accessories:  SU 3-in-1 heart punch, Scotch foam mounting tape  Dies:  Memory Box Cross Stitched Frame Borders, Impression Obsession Small Leaf Set

Something to Laugh About

Oh, hi!  I'm glad you stopped by because I really wanted to share a funny with you today.  I thought of each and every one of you when I bought the stamps I used on these cards.  I think you can relate.

That's a Rubbernecker sentiment called Any More Stamps and the Art Impressions Laughing Set.  Yes, they're part of my recent shopping spree and I'm having the BEST time playing.  However, I've curtailed the shopping for the time being because I told myself I wouldn't buy anymore stamps until I've used everything I have at home.  Hahahahahahahaha!  Honestly.

I'd like to send one of these cards to each of my stamping friends, but I only made four.  I used one of the sentiments from the Laughing Set inside each card.

My laughing girlfriends were all stamped on Arches 140 lb cold pressed watercolor paper and watercolored with Tombow markers, then cut out and glued onto the card.  I'll list more details in the recipe below.

Oh, my gosh, this was fun!  I hope it gave you a giggle.  Have a happy day!