Rosy Whiskers and Running Free

Hello and happy May Day!

If you'll bear with me, I'm not quite done with the bunnies yet.  Soon.  This self-challenge has thinned out my NBUS baskets as well as given me the opportunity to revisit a few from my collection.  Today I have two bunnies, one NBUS and one from my stash.

The first is NBUS Rosy Whiskers from Creative Expressions Designer Boutique.  I colored with Copics.  Cut an oval from the center and raised it by layering over an additional oval (or two?).

Spellbinders Essential Stylish Ovals and Fluted Classics Rectangles
Creative Expressions Mini-Expressions -- Hello & Hi die
Nuvo Sugared Almond Crystal Drops

The next bunny is Creative Expressions Designer Boutique Running Free.  I've colored it only once before.  It takes time with all the detail.

Spellbinders Hemstitch Rectangles, Penny Black Background Basics stencil multi-pack

Sharing here:

Addicted to Stamps and More #491 -- The theme this time is "make your mark" (coloring, etc)

Spring has sprung and the outdoors are claiming more of my time, but I expect I'll still be making cards, too.  Just can't stop!

Have a beautiful day! 

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!

Just Be You

Hello, friends!  Here we are a few days into 2025 and now that the Christmas card rush is over I feel it's time to take a wander through my not-yet-used stamp stash and do some coloring.  Not all my stamps are mainstream, and most are not newly released, but it doesn't matter... I'm going to enjoy them.  The operative phrase here is, "just be you".

I found myself drawn to certain stamps in the Creative Expressions Designer Boutique collection.  Most in my collection are critters and flowers, and favorites among them are a combination of the two.  The regal fellow pictured below appears to have been browsing someone's gorgeous flower garden and come through the other side covered in blooms.

I stamped in Memento Toffee Crunch on Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White and colored with Copics.  After coloring I brushed around him a few spots of Stampin' Up Blush Blossom ink.  The sentiment and more comes with the Flowers & Antlers set.  He's a big guy, but his head and shoulders fit nicely on an A2 card.

Okay, so there's one from the coloring pile.  Only a bazillion more not-yet-colored stamps to go.  I also have that many not-yet-used dies and almost as many embossing folders yet to use.  Things got out of hand.  I won't even mention the designer papers... oops... I just mentioned them.  I'm not proud, but I will not feel guilty.  Are you with me?

Have a happy day, and remember to just be you.  See you again soon!

Stamps:  Creative Expressions Flowers & Antlers  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80#, kraft woodgrain  Ink:  Memento Toffee Crunch, Stampin' Up Blush Blossom  Coloring:  Copics, white acrylic paint for eye dots

Sweet Nectar

Happy Friday!  Today's card wraps up Creative Expressions Week #1.  I'll do more on this focus another week, but I have a few other things to do in the meantime.  My not-yet-used baskets runneth over.

I think this stamp is so pretty and delicate.  The hummingbirds are make-believe colors because sometimes it's easier to not follow the rules.  I watercolored with Tombow markers.  I could swear the green border was a better match in real life, sigh...  Maybe it's the photo, maybe my memory is faulty (haha, not haha).

The stamp is called Sweet Nectar.  It includes the sentiment.  I added green sprinkles with retired SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds.  It's a simple birthday card, already sent and received.

Sharing my never-before-used Sweet Nectar at Darnell's NBUS Challenge #40.

That's all folks!  Have a sweet weekend!

Stamps:  Creative Expressions Sweet Nectar, SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot pressed watercolor, Memory Box Wheat Grass  Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, SU Glorious Green  Coloring:  Watercolor with Tombow markers  Other:  WOW Clear Gloss Super Fine embossing powder, gold trim

Birds and Blooms

Greetings!  It's nice to see you at the start of a brand new week.  I've been working with my not-yet-used Creative Expressions stamps in an effort to do another focus week.  It has taken a while -- I made this card in April.  I know!  I've been going through an extensive coloring slump due to some hand/arm pain and other issues.  I'm tentatively thinking the situation has improved somewhat, but not holding my breath.

The stamp set is Creative Expression Nightingale's Song.  I stamped on 140 lb hot pressed watercolor paper, then painted with Twinkling H2O's.  The whole card was sprayed with the last of my glitter spray, but no sparkle shows in the photo, tsk tsk.

I made another card with this set, too, but one is enough to represent.

Since this was the first inking of the set I'll share at Darnell's NBUS Challenge #40.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I'll continue with Creative Expressions on Wednesday and Friday.  Just trying to lighten the load in those NBUS baskets.  Have a good day!

Easter Bunny

Hi again!  Sharing one of very few Easter cards I made this year.  When I realized how I was struggling with them I decided to call it good enough.  This stamp is not an Easter image but, hey, it's a bunny and it's a pretty thing with all the flowers.  Add an Easter sentiment and it works, I think.

I watercolored with Twinkling H2O's, added sequins and a scalloped edge.  There are dots of white acrylic paint in the flowers.  A simple enough card, but the coloring took forever with the Twinks on such a detailed image.

I'll be playing along in Double D's Easter Challenge today.
Also, the bunny stamp is fresh out of the package so I'll join the rest of the NBUSers in Darnell's NBUS Challenge #37.

Thanks bunches for stopping by today.  I'll see you again soon!

Stamps:  Creative Expressions Running Free  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, 49 and Market Sage designer paper  Ink:  Palette Noir  Coloring:  Watercolor with Twinkling H2Ox  Other:  Sequins, SU Subtle embossing folder, Impression Obsession Easter Joy die, Spellbinders A2 Curved Borders One, Sue Wilson Pierced Flags

Dragonfly Delight

So, here we are, practically the end of summer and I've got summer stamps yet to be colored.  No matter.  I'll be making fall and winter cards with spring and summer sprinkled in between.  Sound good?

Today's card is using a Creative Expressions Designer Boutique stamp called Dragonfly Delight.  I bought my first Creative Expressions stamp earlier this year, colored it, loved it, and went back for more.

I used my MISTI for stamping the image and sentiment simultaneously.  Embossed with Princess Gold EP and colored with Tombow water-based markers and my homemade blender solution.  I left the background all clean and white, but drew a border with an ultra-fine tip Sharpie.  These flowers look like daffodils, but the leaves are definitely not daffodil leaves, so maybe they're something else.  Any guesses?  Nevertheless, they're beautiful and this was a quick and fun image to color.

I never plan on being late with a birthday card, but, in fact, I was late with one this month.  Now I'll be ready in case it happens again.

Sending my dragonfly over to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #29 (never before used schtuff).

Wishing you a wonderful week full of all the things you love.  See you soon!

Stamps:  Creative Expressions Dragonfly Delight  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor  Ink:  Versamark  Coloring:  Tombow markers and homemade blender  Other:  Ranger Princess Gold embossing powder, ultra-fine tip Sharpie for border

Flamingo and Flowers

Hi, there!  Letting the dust settle between home improvement projects . . .  It's been a while since I made a card "just because", but new stamps were calling to me from the basket.  I couldn't wait to color this one.  I spotted it when I was searching flower stamps at 1-2-3 Stitch.  This is my first Creative Expressions stamp, and it's called Tropical Flamingo.

It stamped nicely and the image is fanciful enough to allow some fun with the coloring.  I used Tombow markers and blender, giving it a loose watercolor look, but without the water.  Colors are almost the same as the package picture.  It's a little bit funky, but I love it.  For an easy finish I stenciled sunrays which go nicely with the sentiment.  This is one of those little 4 3/4" square cards that I love making.

I hope to get a little caught up with my visiting, plus color a few more things before someone comes to do the second bathroom and floors.  Maybe we'll see each other again soon!  Wishing you a happy day!

Stamps:  Creative Expressions Tropical Flamingo  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, other white card base  Ink:  Palette Noir, Distress Oxide Scattered Straw  Coloring:  Tombow markers and blender  Other:  White acrylic paint, Black Diamond Stickles, MFT Ray of Light stencil