Double D Challenge -- Christmas Trees

Hello!  It's Double D Challenge time again.  Maybe you need a last minute Christmas card?  That's the name of my game this year.  However, I see the light at the end of the tunnel.  It's a good thing I love making the cards, but it would be nice if everything else would slow down while the work is in progress.

Darlene has created an inspiring board for us today, all about the Christmas tree.  That's a fun subject!  See the board and a prize that's up for a random winner:

 

As always, the team votes on creative favorites.  You all don't make it easy with so many fabulous choices!

My eyes went straight to the wheelbarrow on the inspiration board, knowing I had a similar Power Poppy stamp.  It's called Season's Greenings.  I stamped on extra white watercolor paper and colored with Tombow markers and blender.

The wheelbarrow and Santa are two separate stamps.  I hand cut Santa and placed him down front to create more of a scene.  The background die is Spellbinders Infinity Punch & Pierce Plate.  It's not a Christmas die but I liked it for the eyelet-type openings resembling leaves with the green card base peeking through.  Festive guy that he is, Santa has decorated the garden with red and gold tinsel ropes.  Apparently he loves glitter and that's a good thing because so does the friend I sent this to.

The team has more inspiration for you on the challenge blog, and we'd love to see your Christmas tree creation in the Double D gallery if you have the time.  Be merry!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Season's Greenings  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Neenah white 80 lb, SU Garden Green card base  Ink:  Ranger Archival Watering Can, SU Garden Green and Bashful Blue  Coloring:  Tombow markers and blender  Dies:  Spellbinders Essential Arches, Infinity Punch & Pierce Plate, Memory Box Tinsel Ropes  Other:  Stickles Xmas Red, Golden Rod, Patina glitter glue, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

'Tis the Season for Amaryllis

I feel as though I haven't been coloring enough lately, especially flowers, but that is going to change.  I've colored my Power Poppy Amaryllis Bliss today, no longer available as a stamp, but the digi, simply called Amaryllis, can be found here.  Such a pretty thing!

For a no-line result I stamped the flowers in Memento Rosebud and colored with Copics, then carefully hand cut.  I placed the flowers face down on a foam pad and ran my blunt stylus over them to shape. Stamped the evergreen foliage onto a half oval and added that to the embossed panel.  Mounted the flowers with thin foam tape.  That's the quickie version.

I like the cute little Poppystamps sentiment banner.

When all was said and done I added Stickles Stardust glitter glue to the petal edges so I could play along in The Flower Challenge and, of course, I couldn't resist the gorgeous Triple B mood board.  

The Flower Challenge -- Add sparkle
Triple B Challenge -- Birds, blooms, or butterflies

 

I really appreciate your visit today.  I've fallen behind but I'll catch up.  Merriest wishes!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Amaryllis Bliss, Poppystamps Christmas Banners  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb  Ink:  Memento Rosebud for Amaryllis, Stampin' Up Garden Green for foliage, Memento Tuxedo Black for sentiment  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Spellbinders Tiled Motif 3D embossing folder, Spellbinders Essential Stylish Ovals, Stickles Stardust glitter glue, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Clean and Simple Poinsettia Border

Hi all!  Today's card came about on a crafty whim.  There's no good reason other than I was flipping through my Power Poppy stamps and came across this oldie.  It's meant to be horizontal, but I wondered how it would work as a vertical border.  I like it!  Very simple.

I colored with Copics, hand cut, and chose another Power Poppy stamp set for the sentiment.  You probably can't see it, but after stamping the sentiment I embossed the white panel with SU's Subtle 3D folder, up to the colored border.  Applied ribbon and some punched gold dots, added to the red card base.  Fun and done!

Do you remember Power Poppy?  Having been on Marcella's design team since its inception I have a lot of her stamps, plus the digis.  She no longer produces new designs, but there are still a lot of clear stamp sets available in the shop at greatly reduced prices, and the digis continue to be available.  I haven't been printing digis since I got fed up with my printer, tsk tsk, but I have every intention of revisiting my Power Poppy and other oldie but goodie stamps more often.

Today's card is a good fit for the Simply Clean & Simple November Challenge where the optional theme is "Christmas is Coming".

I'm glad you could stop by today.  We'll do this again real soon!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Let Your Heart be Light (poinsettias) and Botanical Tree (sentiment)  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, Bazzill red, gold mirror cardstock  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Real Red  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Goldenrod Stickles, gold metallic ribbon, 1/4" & 1/8" circle punches, SU Subtle 3D embossing folder

Cool Fox

Hello again!  I'm back with another of Diane and Darlene's challenges.  Remember, my goal is to do all of their NINE(!) challenges this month.   Can You Handle the Pressure is one of the Two D's bi-monthly challenges and I'm hoping to do both this month.  I love my embossing folders!

The optional twist this time is "winter".  I always try to do the twist.  This could be just a winter card, but I made it into a Christmas card.  Inside it says, "Enjoy the wonder of it all.  Merry Christmas".  The rush of the Christmas season is a good time to stay cool and enjoy the wonder of it all.

The fox and sentiment are from a 2020 Power Poppy clear set.  The inside sentiment (sorry, not photographed) is from another Power Poppy set.  Even though Marcella is no longer making stamps I continue to enjoy my Power Poppy often.  The digis and a few of the stamp sets are still available in the Power Poppy Shop.

Coloring was done with Copics.  Most important to this challenge is the Snowfall embossing folder.

Many thanks to Diane and Darlene for this fun challenge that helped me get a start on my 2024 Christmas cards so I can "stay cool and enjoy the wonder of it all"!

Can You Handle the Pressure with optional twist of winter.

I'm glad we could visit today.  Take care and we'll do this again soon!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Forest Fellas  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80# & 110 lb  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Stickles Stardust glitter glue, Tim Holtz Sizzix Snowfall embossing folder, Impression Obsession Tree Landscape Layers and Small Snowflake Set

Peace, Love, & Joy

Hello and happy Black Friday!  I'm resisting the shopping urge for the time being, but it's not as if I don't have plenty of everything.  It can be as much fun to simply shop my stash and that's what I did for the two cards I'm sharing today.

This Tutti Designs Arched Fir Branch comes out every year, mostly because I love the die but never seem to totally love anything I make with it.  So I keep trying.  These simple cards might be my favorites so far.

The sentiment is a combo of two retired Power Poppy stamps.  I stamped a batch of these sentiments for card innards, but then loved it so much I decided it really needed to be on the front of at least a couple of cards.  The fir branch came along as a supporting player.

Gold embossed sentiment on the first card, white on the second. 

I'm speeding off to the next job on the list, so I'll leave you with a wish for a happy holiday season!

 

Double D Challenge: Candy Cane

 

A big holiday hello to all my friends!  Are you ready for another Double D challenge?  I know it's busy times and crafting might not be on the agenda, but this challenge will run into the early days of the new year.  The quiet week after Christmas is one of my favorite times for crafting!

Our challenge is all about the candy cane colors of red and white.  I'm pretty sure you can do something with this even if it's not a Christmas card.  I just love the cocoa pot and the striped cookie jar in the inspiration board:

I just happened to have a candy cane stamp that I love and have used many times.  My clear set is sold out and probably retired from Power Poppy, but it's available as a digi stamp here.  I colored with Tombow markers and blender, then dressed up the card with designer paper cut to look like peppermint sticks.  Fun!

You know how it goes:  The team votes on creative winners, plus there's a cool prize that goes to a random winner.  This time it's a cute candy cane stencil:

The team has some fun and festive cards to share on the Double D blog.  Check them out and say "hello"!  Happy candy cane holidays!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Berry Sweet Holiday (retired)  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb watercolor, Neenah 110 lb white, scraps designer paper  Ink:  Palette Noir  Other:  Memory Box Stitched Layered Circles, Sakura Gelly Roll clear sparkle pen

Double D Challenge: Christmas Stockings

Hello friends!  We're kicking off another Double D challenge today.  This time around Diane is asking us to show our Christmas stockings.  That sounds like fun, doesn't it?  Here's a cute board for inspiration:

I'm back to my Power Poppy stamps for this one.  Gee, look at that sunshine in the photo.  As of this writing it's been rain rain rain for several days.

The brick is supposed to represent the edge of a fireplace.  The boughs and bow are decorating the mantel.  I think it was kind of a good idea, but I definitely see things I'd do differently.  A lot of my Christmas cards this year could stand a do-over, sigh.  It's a cute stocking, though, isn't it?

Speaking of cute stockings, check out the prize for a random winner.  How fun!

The team votes on creative winners -- not an easy task, I tell you.  We always have the most awesome entries and it's a treat to look through the players gallery.  I hope you can join us.

In the meantime, enjoy all the team's samples on the Double D blog and say hello while you're there.  Happy holidays!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Fully Stocked clear stamp set (retired)  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor for stocking, Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth solar white 110 lb card base, SU  gray sand-able cardstock (retired), scraps red & green cardstock, scrap wood grain designer paper  Ink:  Palette Noir, SU Poppy Parade  Coloring:  Tombow markers and blender  Other:  Anthology Blizzard (white) dimensional crystal, glitter, Wink of Stella, enamel dots, Sizzix Brick Wall embossing folder, Impression Obsession Pine Pair, Poppystamps Prim and Proper Bow, foam mounting tape

Double D Challenge: Thankful - Blessings - Grateful

Hi there!  It's time for another Double D Challenge.  It's Diane's turn to put forth the challenge and she has given us a beautiful autumn board for inspiration.  The theme is Thankful - Blessings - Grateful, so do keep that in mind when you create.  It doesn't have to be a Thanksgiving card as there are many occasions for thanks, blessings, and gratefulness.

I saw the jar of autumn leaves in the lower left corner of the board and was immediately reminded of an older Power Poppy stamp set called Feeling Fall.  The clear stamp set is retired, but there's a digi featuring the boot and more here.

I stamped the gourds and coffee mug on watercolor paper, then masked and stamped the boot behind them.  Coloring was done with Tombow markers and homemade blender pen.  I've used some of my oldest autumn designer papers for the background.  I never did have a lot of this paper, but it seems to go on and on.  I stitched up the image panel, punched circles for the sentiment, and added some hand cut leaves for accent.

My "grateful" and "blessed" are on the inside of the card:

You know how it works:  The team votes on creative favorites and a pretty great prize goes to a randomly drawn winner.

I hope you'll come play with us at Double D!  Check out the team's cards then use your imagination to create with the theme.  We'd love to see you in the gallery.  Have a great day!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Feeling Fall, SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Crafter's Companion Thankful Words, Impression Obsession Grateful for You  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot pressed watercolor, CTMH Vineyard Berry, SU Almost Amethyst, scraps designer paper  Ink:  Palette Noir, SU Lavender Lace  Coloring:  Tombow markers and homemade blender  Other:  1" & 1 1/4" circle punches, SU Subtle Embossing folder, stitching

A Garden Wreath for CAS Christmas Card Challenge

Hi!  I'm happy to see the CAS Christmas Card Challenge back as it's always been one of my favorites.  This month the theme is "Wreath" and I had nearly endless choices in my collection.  However, it was a treat to finally color this most beautiful Power Poppy wreath from the Season's Greenings set.  I've used and linked to the clear stamp set, but you can get all the parts of this set as digital stamps, too. 

I love a clean and simple design, but I also love to color and use embossing folders and designer paper, so this is my version of that fusion.  Maybe not technically CAS, but I appreciate the inspiration from the challenge.  Today's coloring was done with Copics.  The sentiment is from a retired SU set, chosen because it fit the design in my mind's eye.

CAS Christmas Card Challenge -- Wreath
I'm also sharing at the Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge.  They have a beautiful inspiration board, but anything Christmas is okay.

 

I'm feeling better about my 2022 Christmas card stash with each card I make.  Challenges definitely help.  Thanks everyone!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Season's Greenings, retired SU Many Merry Messages  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, Memory Box Christmas Plaid designer paper  Ink:  Gray, SU Real Red  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Sizzix Lumber 3D embossing folder, Memory Box Stitched Circle Layers

Power Poppy Flower Challenge

Hello to you!  I finally made it back to the blog after a rather long, unplanned absence.  Everything is okay, but the spring garden and cleaning bug bit me and I got distracted.  I know better than to let card making go too long because the next thing you know I've gotten out of the groove and it's hard to find it again.

I was happy to see the Power Poppy challenge is back and Bloomie Christine has decided to make it a "Blossom Challenge".  Each month there will be a different theme but will always include flowers.  Players must use a Power Poppy stamp -- digi or clear.

These Love One Another May flowers were already printed up and sitting in my digi box.  Just add color.  I had cropped it quite a bit but not this much, sheesh.  A coloring failure (ahem) resulted in the necessity to excise one tulip in order to save the rest of the image.  Hence, all the flowers were cut very closely and glued on.  You can hardly tell in the photo, but it's more obvious in real life.

Coloring was done with Tombow markers and minimal use of my homemade blender pen on hot pressed watercolor paper.  I stenciled a brick background and added a sentiment from a retired Power Poppy clear stamp set.  The card is a mini-slimline at 3 1/2" x 6".

The Blossom Challenge at Power Poppy -- April Showers Bring May Flowers

I hope to see you here again soon.  Time will tell.  Have a beautiful day!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Love One Another digital stamp, retired Power Poppy clear stamp sentiment, SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds  Paper:  Neenah white for card base, Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot pressed watercolor for image  Ink:  Printer for image, Memento Tuxedo Black for sentiment, SU Going Gray for brick wall and splatters  Coloring:  Tombow markers with minimal blender pen  Other:  Frantic Stamper Old Brick Wall stencil

Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge #6

 

Hello, friends!  It's time for another beautiful Peace on Earth Challenge.  Just look at the mood board we have for you today:

I was most inspired by the jars of greenery, but also short on time, so I chose a small image from my stash of retired Power Poppy stamps and created a simple design.

I colored with Copics, made an embossed background panel with a narrow strip of coordinating designer paper, stamped a sentiment with holly accent... a relatively CAS card.  I layered the image circle onto a red circle which shows only from the side, but it makes a difference.  The stamped jar was originally clear with stems showing through.  The only color that made it completely opaque was black.  Turns out I like it just fine.

Join us at Peace on Earth.  I know it's crunch time for this year, but next year's cards need making, too.

NOTE:   I'm truly sad to say I had to make the difficult decision to step down from all design teams for 2022.  A medical situation has come to pass at my house which will require more of me and it's where I need and want to focus my attention for a while.  I haven't been stamping or visiting blogs and I apologize for my absence.  I'll be back when time allows, but on a more limited scale.  I'm okay.  Please do not worry.  More on this later.

Sending holiday hugs to all!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Holly Golightly (retired)  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, SU Poppy Parade, Echo Park The Story of Christmas designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Poppy Parade, SU Garden Green and Real Red for single holly sprig  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Retired SU Petals A-Plenty embossing folder, Memory Box Stitched Circle Layers, white gel pen