Jam Packed with Love for Penny Black Saturday Challenge

Hi everyone!  Popping in today with a reminder there's still time to play along in the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.  It's always anything goes, but our optional theme this month is "use a die".  I do have a die or two in my toybox, so I went that route.

 

I used a die for framing and to cut the sentiment, but the real cuties in this card are those two little mousers who've gotten into the jam jar.  Even though I don't want mice in my jam jar I can't help but find little furry creatures adorable and Penny Black's Homemade stamp set is jam packed with adorableness.  The sentiment in this case is from a Hero Arts set.

I watercolored with Tombow markers.  I added a pink wash around the mice, but when I saw the photo I was disappointed that it didn't show up.  Then I looked at the card again and realized it had all faded away!  What the heck?  Oh well, I left it as is and moved on.

The glossy dots are punched from designer paper, then coated with Diamond Glaze.  You know how I love doing that.  If you look closely you can see a bit of pattern in the larger dots.

That's it for me today.  This was great fun because you know how I love my Penny Black stamps.  It's guaranteed you'll love what my co-designer, Denise, and the PBSC team have created, and I really hope you can play along.  The more Penny Black, the merrier!

Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Homemade, Hero Arts Jam Packed sentiment  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, other white for card base, Crate Paper Pretty Party designer paper (years old)  Ink:  Ranger Archival Watering Can  Coloring:  Watercolor with Tombow markers  Other:  Die-namics Stitched Rectangle Frames, other rectangle for sentiment, 1/4" & 1/8" hole punches, JudiKins Diamond Glaze, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Guest Designing with Penny Black Saturday Challenge

Hello there!  I'm honored to be guest designing alongside Denise (The Crafty Den) at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge this month.  The theme is always "anything goes", but with an optional prompt.  This month the option is "use a die".

 

I'm all for using a die!  In this case I colored the wisteria blooms and leaves from Penny Black's Wings of Joy set, then cut the curve with PB's Curved Stitch die.  From my already-made-up stash I plucked a Memory Box dragonfly which happened to be just the right colors.

I watercolored with a mix of Stampin' Up inks and Tombow markers.  Did the background first, then the blooms.  The leaves were stamped separately and hand cut to drape over the blooms and add texture without too much dimension which enables the card to be easily mailable with no extra postage.  Finished with a few sequins for a touch of garden magic.

The sentiment is from the Penny Black Serene Beliefs set.  I've been using this set a LOT since its summer release, mostly for the insides.  Every word is beautiful.

I hope you'll join us at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.  I just love seeing all the PB goodness by the talented team and those who play along.  Have a super day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Wings of Joy and Serene Beliefs  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico extra white 140 lb hot press watercolor, Hammermill Premium 100 lb white  Ink:  Memento Toffee Crunch for image, Stampin' Up Brocade Blue for sentiment  Coloring:  Watercolor with Stampin' Up reinkers and Tombow markers  Dies and Other:  Penny Black Curved Stitch, Memory Box Azure Dragonflies, sequins, Wink of Stella on dragonfly wings

Double D Challenge: When Life Hands You Lemons

Welcome back, friends!  It's time for another Double D Challenge.  Today our theme is "When Life Hands You Lemons".  The inspiration board is so pretty!

When Life hands me lemons I'm going to make a lemon card, and today it includes lemonade and these adorable Penny Black meeces.  I used my trusty Tombow markers and homemade blender solution to color this one.

I tend to want to use cute papers with cute images, but I told myself a long time ago that it's okay to mix cute and beautiful, so that's what I did here.  The Ciao Bella Sicilia paper has lemons galore, and the pattern on the background piece appears rather playful, especially when your brain sees it with the mice.  The mat directly under the image panel reminds me of kitchen tiles.  At any rate, I like how it came together.

The glossy dots I scattered around for fun were punched from the designer paper and then coated with diamond glaze -- one of my absolute favorite things to do.  It's a smile card, for sure!

The team has some wonderfully inspiring cards to share with you at Double D.  I love this theme and I hope you do, as well, and will enjoy playing along with us.

Take care and have a happy day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Homemade  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, CTMH Star Spangled Blue, Ciao Bella Sicilia designer paper  Ink:  Ranger Archival Jet Black  Coloring:  Tombow markers and homemade blender  Dies:  Cottage Cutz Double Stitched Square set  Other:  1/4" & 1/8" hole punches, JudiKins Diamond Glaze

Penny Black on a Saturday

Hello, crafty friends!  I hope you're all enjoying a nice weekend doing whatever makes you happy.  I've been retired for going on 11 years now, but I still find something special about the weekends.  After all those working years I just don't get over the feeling of release that comes with a Friday night.

I'm here today to share in the Penny Black Saturday Challenge where the optional theme is "Things with Wings".  That's my cue to color up my newest Penny Black stamp, Wings of Joy.  It's easy for me to go overboard with my Penny Black purchases because I'm such a fan, but I've been conservative lately.  This stamp though, sigh... and the Serenity Edger die set... they were a quick hop into my basket.

I stamped the bird and branch in Memento Toffee Crunch, and the sentiment in Palette Noir on extra white hot pressed watercolor paper and watercolored with Tombow markers.  Sponged the edges with Stampin' Up More Mustard ink.  After layering onto a card base of ivory textured Bazzill I applied the watercolored die cut "serenity" and a few iridescent sequins.

The set has a larger wisteria chain and extra leaves which I've already stamped and will try to turn into a card soon.  Penny Black has just released a Christmas collection and I'm currently trying to make my conservative choices.  I'm thinking poinsettias and a sentiment/die set.  It's never ending.

Challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge -- Things with Wings, or optional anything goes.
NBUS Challenge #89 -- My never before used schtuff is the Penny Black Wings of Joy stamp set.

 

Thank you so much for spending a little time with me today.  I do enjoy our visits!

Stamps:  Penny Black Wings of Joy  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico 140 lb hot press watercolor, ivory Bazzill for card base  Ink:  Memento Toffee Crunch for image, Palette Noir for sentiment, Stampin' Up More Mustard for brushing image panel edges  Coloring:  Watercolor with Tombow markers  Other:  Penny Black Serenity Edger die set, iridescent sequins, white acrylic paint for eye glint

Mice, Mice Baby

Hi there!  I have a card here that I wasn't expecting to share today, but along came The Paper Players Challenge with the theme "For the Little Ones".  I had recently sat down with my Penny Black Especially Micey set and stamped, colored, and created cards.  The others were shared previously, this one is the fourth and final.  It feels good to have enjoyed every stamp in the set.

I colored with Tombow markers and blender, chose some old designer paper and coordinated all colors around that, including the Cougar Natural card base.  Wishing I'd used white, but hindsight, sigh...  Nevertheless, the stamps are cute.  Penny Black never lets me down!

The Paper Players Challenge -- For the Little Ones

Thanks everyone!  I'm so glad you stopped by!

Stamps:  Penny Black Especially Micey, Stampin' Up retired All Year Cheer  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Cougar Natural, Stampin' Up Gable Green, stash DCWV designer paper  Ink:  Ranger Archival Jet Black  Coloring:  Tombow markers and blender  Other:  Spellbinders Hemstitch Rectangles, Scrapbook.com Mini Flowers, Cuttlebug Seeing Spots embossing folder

Pretty Papers and Flowers

Hello and welcome!

I started with one card and ended up with three when I pulled out a pretty Zoju paper pad called Forest Dreams.  The first is teamed with Penny Black products -- see notes under photo.

Penny Black Love Blooms stamp set with dies, Serenity Edger, and Curved Stitch dies

I stamped with Ranger Archival Watering Can on hot press watercolor paper and colored with Tombow markers.  To finish, I dotted with Simply White Nuvo drops.  The Serenity Edger die set includes not only the edger, but this straight cut "Serenity" as well.  It's from their most recent release and I'm loving it a lot!

For the next card I wanted to use the butterfly paper, but I felt it needed a little something so I edged it with the flower buds from the PB Love Blooms set.  Then I fretted that the focal point was too ambiguous.  Was it the butterfly or the flower buds?  In the end I simply added the silver satin birthday sentiment and finished with sequins and Nuvo drops.

The paper was too pretty to put away just yet, so I let it shine on for one more card.  

Impression Obsession Fancy Cut Out Border
Sentiment from retired Power Poppy Floribunda stamp set

Since today's cards are mostly all about the pretty papers I'd like to play along here:

Love those Pretty Papers -- Anything goes with patterned paper as a prominent feature, or optional coastal.

*** Also ***

NBUS Challenge #88 -- My never before used schtuff is the Penny Black Serenity Edger die set.  Darnell is having a Mutual Appreciation Celebration this month.  She's pretty amazing to put this on.  Check it out on the challenge blog.  Thank you, Darnell!

I hope follow.it works this time.  It did not send my previous post, but maybe it will go through with this one.  Thank you for visiting!

Nice Little Mice

Hi there, and welcome back!

It's been a few days since I posted.  Just busy with life stuff as well as making cards for later.  Today's cards are just for play.

I pulled another not-yet-used item from my use-next basket.  This time it's a stamp set, an older, but new-ish to me Penny Black set called Especially Micey.  I've now used every stamp in the set and I'm feeling good about that!

The first card is simple and clean with the "wish", the leafy vine, and the flower from my oldie stash.  I figured the Aster die could double as a dandelion if I colored it yellow.  The bee was in my spare parts and the designer paper is years old.  I'm trying to use it up, but it just goes on and on.

The second card uses more of that designer paper, along with one of my Stamping Bella Spec-tacular sentiments.  I added a fern die, and some Nuvo drops.

My first card is heading over to Simply Clean & Simple where the theme this month is "Birthday". 

Card #2 is going to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge where the theme is anything goes or "On the Move".  I made the second card for last month's PBSC to use patterned paper, but I was too late so I'll go with the anything goes option this month.

 

Thank you for visiting today.  I'll try not take so long before I pop in here again.  

Stamps:  Penny Black Especially Micey, Fiskars Make a Wish Quotes (1st card), Stamping Bella Spec-tacular sentiment (2nd card)  Paper:  Hammermill Premium 100 lb white (1st), Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb watercolor & SU Poppy Parade (2nd), old Memory Box Brioche designer paper (both cards)  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black & SU Soft Sky (1st), Ranger Archival Jet Black (2nd)  Coloring:  Copics (1st), Tombow markers and blender (2nd)  Dies:  Heartfelt Creations Delicate Asters, Poppystamps Diana Border, Memory Box Buzzing Bumblebees (1st card), Spellbinders Hemstitch Rectangles, MayJoyDIY Ferns (2nd card)  Other:  White acrylic paint (1st), Sugared Almond Nuvo Drops (2nd card)

Double D Challenge: Splatter

Hi there!  How about another Double D Challenge?  It's all about splatter today.  Big splatters, little splatters, crazy splatters, tidy splatters... let's get messy!

I don't know about you, but my splatters generally get messy.  Today wasn't too bad.  I had my splatter screen and craft mat, and my splatters were fairly well controlled.  I used them as a background for the rose cone -- Penny Black's Flower Scoops.  The cone and rose are separate stamps so you can use them in a variety of ways, but I rather like them together.  I thought it would work as a birthday card with the "sweet wishes" sentiment (Cottage Cutz).

All the coloring was done with Copics on watercolor paper, including the butterfly and die cut words.  After coloring the butterfly wings I went over them with a brush tip Ranger Distress embossing pen.  I love that thing, but I forget to use it.  It's perfect for smaller things such as the butterfly.  I then embossed the wings with a years old Iridescent Peacock powder which gives it clear and truly iridescent stay-in-place sparkle.

The team has some fine samples to share with you, so hop over to Double D and check them out and then I hope you'll splatter along with us!

Have a super day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Flower Scoops  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Close to my Heart Vineyard Berry, SU Pink Pirouette  Ink:  Palette Noir, SU Rose Red & Pink Pirouette  Coloring:  Copics  Dies:  Lil' Inker Silly Stitched Die Set, Memory Box Canyon Butterflies, Cottage Cutz Sweet w/Shadow & Wishes w/Shadow  Other:  SU Subtle embossing folder (on card base), Ranger Distress embossing pen, Iridescent Peacock embossing powder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Birds on a Flowering Branch

Hello and welcome!  I finally have a card to share.  Actually, I made this card maybe two weeks ago, but my big (old) computer where I edit photos simply would not start one day.  It wouldn't even start in the shop for the tech guru.  He was able to save my hard drive but not my programs (also old), so here I am, starting over, learning new software.  Even my monitor wouldn't start with the new computer, so off I went again...

Pictured below is a beautiful Penny Black stamp from last year.  I watercolored with Twinkling H2Os, then added an Easy Expressions from The Ton, and embellished with a few small gems.  I miss my old editing programs, but I'll get the hang of it.  During the cropping and straightening process things went a little wonky.

I'm playing along in the following challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge:  Anything goes or your favorite Penny Black Stamp.  I love all my PB stamps from cute to beautiful, but I'm drawn to anything with a bird, so today it's this stamp called Confidant.  Are they whispering secrets?
Triple B Challenge:  Birds, blooms, or butterflies.  I can't resist.  Look at all that pretty pink in their inspiration board!
NBUS Challenge #86:  Never before used schtuff.  Yes, this beautiful stamp has been sealed in its package since last spring.

 

That's all for now!  Life is busy, but I'll try to be back soon.  We have out of town visitors next week, so housework must be done.  Sophie has already been to the beauty parlor.  An adventure dog can start to look a little scruffy after a while.

Scruffy Sophie

Stay crafty, my friends!

Stamps:  Penny Black Confidant, The Ton Easy Expressions  Paper:  Strathmore 140 lb cold press watercolor, natural white card base, Neenah white sentiment  Ink:  Ranger Archival Watering Can, Stampin' Up Brocade Blue & Memento Tuxedo Black for sentiment  Coloring:  Watercolor with Twinkling H2Os  Other:  Clear gems, foam tape to pop up sentiment

Daffodil Trio

Hello, and welcome to a new week at my happy place!

While spring is still fresh and young I thought I'd color some daffodils.  Those in my garden have long since come and gone, but Penny Black's not-yet-used Flower Scoops from last year will work nicely for a friend's birthday later this month.

The SSS Teardrop Pinpoint Frames on the pretty designer paper provided an extra feminine starting point for the base.  The additional mat was measured and cut with my paper trimmer, and the corners punched with an oldie but goodie decorative corner rounder.  I brushed the edges with Stampin' Up Mellow Moss ink and stamped a sentiment from another PB set.  Off to a good start!

The daffodil bouquet was colored with Tombow markers and blender on watercolor paper, then hand cut and shaped from the backside with a roller ball type stylus.  It's popped up on foam tape, plump in the middle with the edges curled back.  Three iridescent sequins finish the card.

Speaking of springtime and happy place...

Ridley's happy place is anywhere with a ball.  You can probably guess that on this April day he'd been chasing it quite a bit.  It can be hard to get any work done out there, but he's worth it.  The forsythia has now dropped a lot more blooms as the green leaves push them out of the way to have their turn in the garden.

Challenges today:

Triple B Challenge:  Birds, Butterflies, Blooms  -- Today I have blooms.
NBUS Challenge #85 -- My never before used schtuffs are Penny Black Flower Scoops and Simon Says Stamp Teardrop Pinpoint Frames.  I feel like a broken record as many times as I've linked to this challenge.

 

That's all for today, friends.  Wishing you peace and happiness and plenty of crafty time.  Thank you for visiting!

Stamps:  Penny Black Flower Scoops, Super Day  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Hammermill Premium 100 lb white, Paper Rose Flower Shoppe designer paper  Ink:  Memento Toffee Crunch for image outline, Memento Tuxedo Black sentiment, SU Mellow Moss shading on mat  Coloring:  Tombow markers and homemade blender  Other:  Simon Says Stamp Teardrop Pinpoint Frames, Marvy decorative corner rounder, iridescent sequins, Scotch brand foam mounting tape